Joel Todd Leroy Prince is a practicing veterinarian and partner at Elmhurst Animal Care Center in Illinois. In addition to caring for feline and canine patients, Dr. Joel Todd Leroy Prince is board-certified in the care of small animals. 

Rats, mice, and other pocket pets can be highly sociable pets. Consider the following tips for providing high-quality care to your pet rat or mouse.

- Choose a healthy diet. Mice and rats need to eat high-fiber diets of coarse, fibrous vegetable matter. Commercial pellet and block-style foods are ideal and can be supplemented with small amounts of fresh produce. Rats love to eat sweets, but they should be given sweet potato, carrot, or apple bits as treats instead of sugary sweets.

- Focus on hygiene and ventilation. Rats and mice are susceptible to vapors from their urine when their enclosures are not properly ventilated. Remove wet bedding promptly, clean cages weekly, and ensure that all items are dry before placing them back into the enclosure. 

- Provide fun and socialization. Pocket pets need chew toys and a safe exercise wheel in their home. They also benefit from daily human contact. Pet mice and rats should get a chance to play with their human companion outside of the cage every day. Rats are especially smart and can learn simple tasks through positive reinforcement.