https://www.chewy.com/education/small-pet/rat-and-mouse/11-common-mouse-behaviors-explained
*Smart, social, and surprisingly affectionate - rats and mice make wonderful pets. The Pet Rat & Mouse Education Hub explores habitat ideas, feeding, enrichment, and bonding tips to help you create the best home for your tiny companions.
Pet mice are intelligent, curious creatures with a wide range of behaviors that can give insight into their well being and personality. Regular self grooming is normal, but excessive grooming may indicate stress, often triggered by environmental changes, lack of hiding spaces, or bright lighting.
Mice also enjoy chasing each other - playful chases are quiet and harmless, while aggressive ones involve biting and vocalizations, typically over dominance. Standing on their hind legs is another common behavior; it can signal curiosity in a single mouse or potential conflict when seen between males.
Unlike dogs, tail wagging in mice is a sign of irritation or aggression.
Mice often groom one another to show affection, but overgrooming - known as barbering-can signal dominance, especially if fur loss occurs.
As natural burrowers, mice love to dig and build nests using bedding, and you will often see them carry materials to a chosen corner of their enclosure.
Since they are nocturnal, mice are most active at night, so evening is the best time for interaction.
Teeth grinding is another typical behavior that helps keep their ever growing teeth in check and often indicates contentment - sometimes so intense it causes their eyes to move slightly in and out of their sockets.
Observing a mouse’s ears can also reveal their mood: ears perked forward suggest curiosity, while ears pinned back indicate defensiveness.
Lastly, mice use their whiskers to explore their surroundings, especially in the dark, wiggling them to gather information through touch.
Chewy editorial team highlights 11 common mouse behaviors, explaining how understanding them can strengthen your bond with your pet and help create a safe, enriching, and happy environment for them.
