Pet mice make for very entertaining and sociable pets, but you should make an informed decision if you want to get one, and this means getting to know how long does a pet mouse live, why do pet mice die and how to help your pet mouse live a long and healthy life.

Unfortunately, pet mice have one of the shortest lifespans amongst all pet rodents. In captivity, the average lifespan of a mouse is 2 years.

How Long Does a Pet Mouse Last?

Given proper care and attention, a pet mouse can have a lifespan of 1 to 2 years, since captive mice have a shorter life cycle than wild rodents.

How Long Do Mice Stay Alive in Captivity?

In some exceptional cases, mice can live up to three years, under the right circumstances and in a proper environment.

There are very few cases of pet rodents living for more than 3 years, with some of them reaching the age of 5. Proper care of your pet cannot be stressed enough if you want it to live longer than the average captive rodent.

If you are wondering how long does a rat live in captivity, the maximum lifespan is the same, of up to 3 years, which only applies to cases where the animal was very well taken care of.

How Long Do Field Mice Live?

If pet rabbits have a significantly longer lifespan than wild rabbits, when it comes to mice, it does not make much of a difference if they are house mice or field mice.

In the wild, various factors and conditions shorten a mouse’s lifespan to a maximum 1 year.

This average value may vary from one species to another, but due to harsh weather conditions, lack of food and predators, field mice usually do not live more than one year.

Choosing a Mouse That Lives Longer – What to Look for?

When choosing a pet mouse, you should opt for the one that shows agility and alertness.

When it comes to physical aspects, a healthy mouse that lives longer is the one that exhibits soft and shiny hair, as well as rosy pink ears and tail.

You should also check the mouse for signs of illness around its mouth, nose, and bottom. Clean orifices, without any sign of discharge, are a marker for health and a long lifespan.

Last, but not least, if you buy a pet mouse, you should always inspect the cage it was kept in at the pet store.

If the cage is dirty, the mouse was not kept in the best conditions. Take a peek at its droppings too, and make sure they are well-formed, as it is also a sign of health in mice.

Can Mice Live Without Food? How Long Does a Mouse Survive Without Food?

Theoretically, mice can live a couple of months without food, since they are a specie with features that allows them to survive in harsh environments. A proper diet is recommended, however, if you want your pet mouse to have a long lifespan.

Can You Make a Pet Mouse Live Longer?

Helping your pet mouse live a long and healthy life is not easy. You might be tricked into thinking that a good diet for them means to let them feed on almost anything since they are omnivores.

The truth is that even if they can eat anything from plants to animals, does not mean you should let them eat anything that you have around the house. A balanced diet can help your pet mouse live longer, so try to feed a house mouse with some commercial hamster or rodent food, as it has a nutritional profile that can satisfy your pet’s needs.

Pellets mixed with seeds are also a good idea for pet mice, but you have to make sure they finish the pellets too before adding more seeds. Pieces of fruits and vegetables make for a great snack for pet mice.

Offering your pet mouse a proper environment is also a good way to increase its lifespan.

A special cage for rodents, with good ventilation and a strong base, as well as unbreakable metal or glass walls, which is big enough for your pet to run around as much as it needs to, can increase the chances of it living longer than the average life expectancy of rodents.

As a part of a proper environment, a pet mouse also needs a place to hide, which it can use as a nest as well. You can try inserting a sock or a pile of wool in its cage and see how it reacts.

Why Do Pet Mice Die?

It is especially important for a pet mouse to be able to run and play. If the cage you keep it in is not big enough and you can not let it out to exercise or at least provide it with a wheel to play with, your pet mouse will get fat and this leads to potentially deadly health issues.

Young children can be dangerous for pet mice since they may not know how tight to hold the mouse and they might choke it or provoke serious damage by squeezing it.

Lack of water can be a cause of death in mice. If you forget to refill their water bowl for more than 5 days, there are serious chances that the mouse will die of dehydration.

Knowing How Long A Pet Mouse Lives, Should You Buy One?

Small animals such as pet mice make for a tiny, cute, and entertaining pet, that seems a little bit less pretentious than a cat or a dog.

The truth is that even though they do not require a lot of maintenance expenses or time, they only stick around for up to 3 years in rare cases, so if you are not willing to lose your pet friend after such a short time, you’d be better off with a larger pet.

The short life cycle of a pet mouse is a factor that should be thoroughly considered before bringing one into your home.

Other Questions

How long can a mouse live in captivity?

A mouse usually has a short lifespan whether he/she is living in captivity or the wild. However, different species of the mouse have a different lifespan. Some species, such as house mouse have a life of 9-12 months, while a white-footed mouse can live up to 24 months.

Pet mice usually tend to live longer than those that are in the wild. Mice can prove to be great pets as they are friendly and intelligent, and some children get too attached to their pet mouse. But a mouse in captivity only has a lifespan of around two years on average. 

Do mice love their owners?

Mice are not only friendly, but they are intelligent and get attached to their owners pretty quickly. That's why they make great pets. They will give you as much love and affection as you give them. They groom their owner's hands and also like being scratched behind their ears.

One of the best things about having pet mice is that they are highly interactive. They will hang out with you or even watch TV. In addition, your mouse will recognize you by looking at you or your smell and sound. You will notice your mouse getting excited when he/she sees you.  

How can you tell if a mouse is dying?

Mice usually don't have a long lifespan, so you need to look for signs that can tell you if your mouse is sick or dying. Mice who suffer from gradual weight loss can have a sudden death. In addition, mice who develop hypothermia can also die within two weeks.

Hypothermia is a condition in which mice have a low body temperature, usually lower than 98°F or 36.5°C. You can touch your mouse to see if its body feels cool. Slow breathing is another sign which shows your mouse has completed his/her lifespan and is about to die.