Posted by Melissa Hall on September 4, 2007

Q: Hello,

About five days ago my boyfriend found the cats had a mouse cornered. He scooped it up. I thought it was so adorable! I decided to keep it for a pet. I made it a cozy home, safe from the cats. I think it is not full-grown, as it is quite small. It is surely a house mouse, as it is grey and was found on the third floor of our house. The cats caught another one the next day- but that was did not make it. Anyway, I have been trying to feed the mouse from my hand, and have been petting him gently twice a day, in hopes that he will become friendly. This morning he tried to bite me. It really did nothing to me, but his intention was clear. He squeaked as well. My question is: is there any particular way to handle him so that he will become more friendly and perhaps enjoy being handled? Or is this a lost cause? I thought perhaps he is lonely. Maybe I should get him a friend from the pet store to keep him company? Thanks for your help!

~Melissa

Habitat: suburban/yard

State: Pennsylvania

Habitat: suburban/yard

A: We're so used to having domestic animals as pets that we often forget that wild animals are just that - wild! Your mouse isn't being mean or nasty, it just is trying to defend itself - it sees you as an "enemy" of sorts. This is probably the main reason why acquiring wild animals as pets just doesn't work. Wild animals rarely get over their fear of humans and live in terror whenever we approach.

Granted, there are times when an animal can be acquired when it's really young and become somewhat "tame" but for the most part, wild animals just never accept humans as anything other than dangerous.

My suggestion is that you release the mouse somewhere you think the cats can't access. Sorry I can't give you any better answer. If you really do want to have a pet mouse, I'd go to the pet store and buy a couple that have been domesticated. Domestic animals have been bred over time to be much more accepting of humans. Of course, in the case of dogs and cats, they almost seem to need/want human contact.

Hope this helps. Thanks for asking.

John Wiessinger ( September 5, 2007)