Yes! Mice are very active animals and crave stimulation. There are plenty of different toys available at pet shops (check the bird toy and cat toy section as well). Anything that is safe to be chewed at (hard plastics are generally ok, but stay away from soft rubber or anything that looks like it could be eaten) will be played with. I also love going to discount shops and buying anything with a hole in it – from plastic kids toys to kitchen- or bathroomware to oil burners.
Wheels
There is one toy that must never, ever be passed up – the trusty mouse wheel! No mouse house is complete without a wheel. I prefer the type that is enclosed, with a running surface that is solid plastic, so Mrs. Mouse doesn’t have to worry about getting her feet or tail caught in the bars. Ideally the wheel should have a diameter of at least 15cm, smaller than this and you’re risking wheel-tail, a condition where the tail is stretched out of shape from having to hold it over the head to run in the wheel. I especially love the “Silent Spinner”, “Wodent Wheel” and “Flying Saucer” wheels.
Toilet rolls
There is little that beats the good old toilet roll. Pile a few together to make a toilet roll castle, or hang them from the walls or top of the cage with wire. They’ll get chewed to pieces for nesting material, and just for fun. Easy to replace them whenever they get destroyed!
Plastic tubes
Companies like S.A.M and Habitrail make add-on tubes and houses to go with their cages, but you can buy them separately and just use them as tunnels in the cage – mice love tunnels. For a cheaper idea, go to a hardware store and buy PVC piping to use instead.
Ropes
Thick ropes strung across the cage are an exercise in balance. You can buy sturdy colourful ropes from pet shops as a bird toy that attach to the cage bars, or just make one yourself by plaiting strips of fabric or thinner rope.
Mouse balls
Another thing that many mice enjoy is the mouse ball. Pop him in and watch him run around the room in the safety of the ball. Some mice don’t ‘get’ balls – don’t force them. Most will love it, but let them tell you whether they do or not before sticking them in every afternoon.
Food toys
Loosely scrunched up balls of paper with some food in the middle make for hours of entertainment. Or thread bits of food onto some thin wire and string it across the cage for some climbing fun. Cat balls also sometimes have room for a treat or two to be pushed inside, and your mice will go nuts trying to get it out.