There’s a good chance that your pet mouse will spend most of its natural life inside of a cage or enclosure. And while that’s probably the safest bet for them, confined living can take its toll on them both physically and psychologically.
However, you can combat some of these ill-effects through the use of fun toys!
Toys are essential components in keeping your mice happy and healthy. They provide a source of entertainment, exercise, and can even help out with other health aspects such as filing down your mouse’s teeth. But which toys are the best for pet mice?
We’ve put together reviews of some of our favorite toys for pet mice to help you weed through the hundreds available. You’re sure to find something great for your mouse to play with here.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024
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Best Overall
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Niteangel Small Animal Fun Balls |
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Best Value
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Oxbow Twisty Rings |
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Premium Choice
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Ware Fun Tunnel Play Tube |
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Check Price |
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Niteangel Natural Wooden Mouse Tunnel Tube |
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Niteangel Multi-Chamber Mouse House Maze |
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The 5 Best Toys for a Pet Mouse
1. Niteangel Small Animal Fun Balls Activity Toy – Best Overall
Topping off our list at number one are the Niteangel Small Animal Fun Balls. You’ll find a ton of ball toys available for mice, but none of them are quite like these. These balls are made out of 3 different materials—rattan, seagrass, and water hyacinth—to provide varying textures and hours of fun for your little furball.
These balls are also constructed with an open weave design. This means they can be stuffed with treats, food, or hay to further tempt and engage your pet mouse. One of the best parts about these balls is that they’re actually knotted and woven together. There are no glues, plastics, or metal rings holding them together which makes them perfectly safe for your little guy to gnaw on.
But these all-natural balls aren’t just a cool chew toy. Your pet mouse will have a blast rolling them around their habitats and keeping busy. We strongly recommend these for any mouse parent. And at a very affordable price, it doesn’t hurt to give them a try.
2. Oxbow Twisty Rings Small Animal Toy – Best Value
Sometimes, it’s the simplest toys that are the most fun, and this selection is definitely among the best toys for pet mice for the money. The Oxbow Twisty Rings are three woven rings connected like a chain. For us humans, this provides nothing but brief curiosity. However, these things are a whole experience for your mice.
The interconnected rings are made out of all-natural corn leaf and raffia string, making them a safe chew for your little one. And since they’re woven together, you can shove a treat inside of them to further entice your mouse to use them.
There’s also a very good chance you see your mouse start to climb the rings and dart in and out of them. Mice are natural climbers and this provides them with a neat little obstacle course. And this toy is super affordable! The Oxbow Twisty rings aren’t going to break the bank at all, so you might want to consider picking up a couple of sets.
3. Ware Fun Tunnel Play Tube Small Animal Toy – Premium Choice
No mouse’s habitat is fully complete without a tube toy they can hide and play in. However, not all tube toys are built the same. But we like the Ware Fun Tunnel Play Tube a lot. And as far as simple toys go, it’s our premium choice.
The tube is constructed out of non-toxic plastic which is safe for your mouse to be around and play with. However, we recommend keeping an eye on them when first introducing the tube. While non-toxic, the tubes aren’t edible. Heavy chewers may want to start gnawing off pieces. The Ware Fun tube comes in an accordion-like collapsible design which allows you to bend and shape it in different patterns to best fit your mouse’s containment. And it holds its shape very well when set.
One of the best parts about it is that it’s super easy to clean and is odor resistant. And that’s crucial because inevitably, your mouse is going to have an accident and use it as a toilet. However, a quick rinse and wipe down is all it takes to get your tube clean and ready for action again.
4. Niteangel Natural Wooden Mouse Tunnel Tube Toy
Another great tube toy we love is the Niteangel Natural Wooden Mouse Tunnel. Instead of a bendy, collapsible tube, it’s a hollowed-out log that your mouse can explore. While it’s not the longest tube available, the Niteangel tunnel has 9 different holes and openings that your little one will love darting in and out of.
It’s also 100% built out of natural wood, so this tube is completely safe for even the heaviest of chewers. It’ll even help maintain proper wear on their teeth. And since the log is hollowed out, you can also stuff it with hay and other treats to make it more intriguing to your mouse.
Your mouse might also take a keen interest in the tunnel as a comfy nest or den. You may find them dragging bedding inside to create the perfect place to have a quick snooze. The biggest downside to this toy is that it’s rather small and non-collapsible, which may cause some logistics problems when arranging it within their cage. Also, the toy isn’t odor-resistant. And since it’s wooden, it may even absorb some urine or fecal matter.
5. Niteangel Multi-Chamber Mouse House Maze
The last toy on our list isn’t just a toy—it’s an entire experience and lifestyle change for your mouse. The Niteangel Multi-Chamber Mouse House may look like an unassuming box from the outside, but open it up and you’ll find out why it’s so appealing. It’s a maze complete with multiple tunnels and chambers that your mouse can have hours of fun weaving in and out of.
With so many different rooms, you may find that your mouse assigns different spaces individual functions such as one room for digging, one for napping, and another for stashing away goodies.
The house maze is also created without using any nails or staples, instead relying on tongue-and-groove methodology to hold everything together. And since the house is sanded down smooth, there are no rough edges or sharp points to snag your mouse’s skin and fur.
The Niteangel Multi-Chamber Mouse House does have a few downsides. First, it is the most expensive toy on our list. And while it’s not a huge investment, it can put slight strains on the tightest of budgets. Second, the wood can absorb urine smells. You’ll want to maintain a lock on cleanliness because this house can get very smelly if left unchecked. And lastly, you’re going to want to completely dry it after cleaning. If not, the wood can begin to mold.
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Toys for Pet Mice
When it comes to shopping for the best toys for your pet mouse, there are several factors you should consider.
Safe Materials
You want to ensure that whatever toy you give your mouse is constructed out of safe, non-toxic materials. Mice are chewers, and they’re guaranteed to gnaw on their toys. Wooden toys or those made with natural plant fibers are normally the best choices. However, non-toxic plastics may be a viable option. The best aspect of plastic toys is that they’re super easy to clean, and they won’t mold when drying.
Engaging and Entertaining Toys
If you’re going to go through the effort of picking out a toy, it should at least be engaging and entertaining. Fortunately, it’s not too difficult to find stimulating toys. Mice are relatively simple creatures. They don’t need light-up doodads or overly complicated gadgets. Simpler toys are often a much better choice.
Mice love exploring, burrowing, and tunneling which is why tube toys make for a great selection. It allows your mouse to live out those instincts and enjoy themselves. Also, mazes and multi-chambered “houses” are other good choices for this.
Balls make for incredible toys as well. Mice are movers and shakers who love to push and carry things. Providing small balls or other objects can satisfy this need.
Dental Considerations
We’ve already covered that mice should have toys they can safely chew. But why are they such heavy chewers? Mice—like all other rodents—have incisors that never stop growing. And without any means to wear down their teeth, they can quickly become overgrown causing health and safety issues.
But the right toy can help to curb this issue. Wooden toys—or those made with plant fibers—are excellent for wearing down your mouse’s teeth naturally.
Habitat Space
One mistake many mouse parents make when shopping for toys is not taking into account the size of their mouse’s habitat. Mice need room to run and explore. However, that can be made very difficult if their cages are completely full of toys.
The main offenders when it comes to this are tunnel and tube toys. Your mouse should have ample room to enter and exit their tunnels without awkward positioning and squeezing. While it’s true mice love crawling through tight spaces, you should still provide safe ingress and egress to their tunnels.
One thing to consider when shopping for tunnels and tubes is collapsibility. Some tubes, like the Ware Fun Tunnel above, come in an accordion-like style that can be length adjusted and shaped to best fit your habitat space.
Foraging Toys
In their natural wild habitats, mice spend most of their time on the hunt for food. But with pet mice, their food is provided without having to hunt down and scavenge. All too often, this can lead to obesity and laziness. However, foraging toys can help fight against this.
Foraging toys are toys that encourage your mouse to work for their food. These can range from simple tubes stuffed with hay and pellets to woven balls with treats inside.
Conclusion
Providing safe and entertaining toys for your pet mouse is one of the most important jobs you’ll have when raising them. And with so many available options, it can be tough to decide which are best.
Hopefully, our reviews have helped you narrow down the competition and find the best option for your furball. Our hands-down favorite are the Niteangel Small Animal Fun Balls for their safe chewable nature and entertainment value. While our favorite mouse toy for the money is the Oxbow Twisty Ring Chain. Hang those anywhere in your mouse’s habitat, and they’re sure to get a kick out of them and a safe thing to chew.
When it comes to the best toys for your mouse, we’ve found that simplicity is king. You don’t need to break the bank and shell out for expensive, complicated toys. Sometimes, a few balls and rope chains are all that’s needed to ensure your mouse has a happy life.
Featured Image Credit: Kseniia Vladimirovna, Shutterstock
