When looking for the right pet for you and your family, there are many different factors that need to be considered in the process. Owning a small rodent such as a mouse or rat can be a difficult task if you are not prepared for all the responsibilities that go along with each of these pets.

The first thing that you must understand is that there is a large difference between a mouse and a rat. You must also realize that each of them require special needs that need to be taken care of. To start, rats tend to become larger than mice so you need to have enough room for a larger cage for the rat which usually will require more money. The next factor that usually is a deciding factor for everyone is how social the rodent will be with both you and your family. Rats tend to be the most sociable rodent with people. Rats will usually play with and on you and your family while mice will tend to be more apt to play with things around you but not with you. Rats can be one of the most social pets because they require added time in order to feel well taken care of.

Mice can be fun pets to have as well but there are a few things that are different from rats that you must be aware of. One of the first things that you should understand is that mice tend to take up a lot less space then rats do. If you are looking for a pet that is going to require less money from the beginning, this might be the right option for you. Mice tend to be quieter around people so if you are looking for a pet to play with you, this might not be the best option. One of the benefits between mice and rats is that they both require the same dietary needs. Food for your pet rodent is easy to pick up at the local pet store. Mice are usually smaller than rats because adult rats are usually double the size of an adult mouse. One of the downsides to owning a mouse is that owners tend to say that they usually have more of an odor than rats do. If you keep the cage clean on a weekly basis, you shouldn't have any problems with this.