Mouse Rant

by PeachesandPepper92918 Sat 11 May 2019, 9:30 am

Okay, so, I have been owning mice for a little over 8 months, and I absolutely love it. They are just such amazing little creatures packed with more personality then some people I can think of, and I can't believe it took me so long to discover them as pets. But I seem to be the only person who thinks so. It may just be how mice are seen where I live, but I am always met with a negative reaction when I tell people I have pet mice. It's gotten to the point where I am almost embarrassed to tell people that I have mice, because they say things like "ew" or "gross" or "creepy" or "why would you want pet mice", or they just simply make a disgusted face. I don't understand it. Even if you do think they are gross or creepy, you could at least be respectful and not voice your feelings about it in front of the person who just happily told you that they have pet mice. Just the other day, I was at a pet store, and I had made a detour to look at the mice, because it's hard not to, and I said "awww", because this absolutely adorable little guy poked his face out of his little hidey hut, and this guy was walking buy just as I said this, and he looked at me like I was gum on the bottom of his shoe because I said that a mouse was cute. My own mom wasn't to thrilled when I said I wanted pet mice, but now she absolutely loves them. When I told her my plans to mousefy my hamsters old bin cage so I can have more mice, she said "you should have six!" with a lot of excitement. The same person who once thought there tails were creepy just told me the other day how cute there little tails were. I just don't think people around here are really educated at all on mice as pets. So many people around here are snake owners. When I went to get Iris, Tulip, and Orchid, and I told the pet store employ that I wanted them as pets, she got super excited, as 80% of the time they aren't bought as pets, and wanted to know all about them as I was picking out my girls. I know this is really long and unorganized, but I really needed to get this stuff of my chest, and there really isn't anybody around here to tell. I have actually started considering opening a mousery in, like, five years, so I have plenty of time to do research and get it all worked out, so that I can provide ethical mice to my area, because there isn't a single mousery within 300 miles, and to educate people on these little animals as pets. So, you all can add your own two cents and stories, and again, sorry for the rant. Bye! Very Happy

by Sparrow Sat 11 May 2019, 2:27 pm

I completely get you! I currently have 14 members of a gang - completely hidden from my inner circles. My daughter and my partner adore them and we are also planning on adopting some rats in the upcoming months. However, everyone else I know in person has passed some hurtful judgement on my pets with the exception of two people.
The funny thing is, once they meet my gang, people generally say that they wouldn't mind some pet mice of their own, especially after meeting Foxy and Raven.
Anyways, I stopped telling people about my mice and when people ask, I just talk about my dogs and cats instead. If people come into the house, I will absolutely tell them about mice (as I can show them right away to prove how sweet they are) but otherwise I do not see the need to do so. There is so much stigma around those wonderful creatures and people are not open to learn about them. I have to admit, I mainly don't people about my gang as it upsets me to hear peoples disgust. My babies don't deserve to be spoken about in such negative light and if I can avoid not having to hear people give out about them I sure will.

by moonstarfc Mon 13 May 2019, 11:13 pm

I feel the same way now, as almost everybody reacts negatively if I tell them I have pet mice. They usually start talking about how afraid they are of mice that they find in their homes.

My boyfriend (who doesn't live with me) was originally biased against them as in his home country they apparently dealt with infestations a lot. Well, now he seems to feel more neutral towards them since he agreed to feed my mice while I was on vacation.

My mom and brother are the only ones who didn't seem to react negatively towards them, my brother even wanted pet mice too until he smelled the tank on cleaning day.

by chiroptera Tue 14 May 2019, 4:55 pm

I totally know how you feel! Sad

Even among people who like rodents, most people have hamsters or rats rather than mice. (Which I really don't get, rats are sweet and all but tiny little mice are sooo much better Wink

)

I love to tell people about my mice, though. Even if it's really obnoxious when people act disgusted. The worst is when someone says "oh I would kill them" or something of the sort. That's when I get mad.

by CallaLily Tue 14 May 2019, 8:13 pm

Yep. I’ve had similar things said to me. Anywhere from “eeeew” to going on about how their pet would probably enjoy eating my pet mouse. Rolling Eyes

A lot of my extended family tease me about my pets, usually in a friendly way but sometimes going too far. Strangers that I hear rude things from are usually those waiting with me at the Vet’s office. I’m not one to carry on conversations with strangers usually, so that’s pretty much the only time. But I’ve met a few who were really nice too.

Edit: It’s not just my mice though. I’ve heard rude things about other pets too. The hermit crabs. The cats. Hamsters, gerbils. Past reptiles.

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