Mice are some of the most globally prevalent rodents, reaching six out of the seven continents on planet Earth. These familiar creatures are notorious for many things, their intelligence, the fact that they make fun pets, but also the fact that they are often unwanted intruders in many homes.
Whether you’ve been thinking about getting a mouse as a pet or seem to have a mouse problem in your house, you might wonder how often they urinate. We have to say that that does depend on a few things, but most generally, the answer is pretty across-the-board. They pee a lot, around 0.5 to 1 mL per day
House Mouse Urine Output Experiment
In a study conducted by L. C. Drickamer and J. Chem Ecol in October of 1995, mice were observed in a controlled environment to study the subject of urine output.
In this experiment, urine output was collected in a metabolism cage from mice over 24 hours. Here are quick facts about what they found.
Male mice produce 1.5 to 2 times the amount of urine that females produce. Also, females in heat urinate more frequently than those who are in diestrus.
This ultimately tells us that male mice have a much higher urine output than female counterparts, regardless of their heat stage.
According to Johns Hopkins, mice have a urine output of 0.5 to 1 mL per day.
Mice In the Wild
It’s impossible to monitor the urination frequency of mice in a wild setting because there is no true way to do a control test.
But one could conclude that the frequency of urination depends greatly on the amount of water they intake daily.
For instance, if a wild mouse lives in an area with much less access to fresh water sources, they might urinate less frequently than one who has constant access to water.
However, it’s likely safe to say that the bathroom habits of domesticated versus wild mice are not so different.
- Related Read: Best Rat & Mouse Urine Cleaners
Can You Potty Train a Mouse?
What might surprise you is that you can litter train your mouse—to some degree. This may not be all that surprising once you know that mice are considered one of the most intelligent mammals in the animal kingdom.
Professionals recommend putting a small litter pan in their enclosure. You can place their droppings and waste into this litter box and gradually they should pick up on the concept to relieve themselves in that spot.
Mice naturally want to keep their waste away from their living space, so you might notice that they favor one side of their cage to do their business. You can always try to place a litter box in that area first to attract them. Once they get the hang of using the litter box, you can move it to a different corner of the cage if you need to.
Conclusion
So now you know a little bit more about how much urine to expect from a mouse—roughly between 0.5 and 1 milliliter. If you were planning on getting a caged animal that didn’t have high care needs, a mouse might not be the best pick.
Sure, they are little and don’t take up very much space, but they can incur a lot of cage maintenance. However, if you’re up to the challenge, mice can be incredibly rewarding pets if given the chance. Remember—every mouse needs a friend. Always have a pair to ensure a happy life.
Featured Image Credit: Hans, Pixabay
