Adopting older mouse?

by ILoveMice47 Mon 18 Dec 2017, 9:51 am

Hi everyone, I'm new here and I'm first of all sorry if I posted this in the wrong section. Anyways, there's a sweet older mouse (1.5 years old) in a nearby shelter. I really want to adopt him, but my mom is concerned about his age and whether or not he will just pass away very soon before we get to spend time with him. Do you guys have any thoughts about this?
Thanks for reading,
Hope

by MerciToujoursMaPetiteBoop Mon 18 Dec 2017, 10:46 am

A few years ago I noticed a little brown mousie-boy at a nearby shelter, estimated to be around two years "old". I understood perfectly well what that meant in terms of any long-term plans, and I went to meet him anyway. My philosophy was that no matter how many days he might have left, he would prefer to spend them with me in whatever crazy lifestyle I could hold together for him, than to sit alone in a cage in a room full of other small mammals that would eat him if they could catch him.

The little brown fellow was calm and gentle, perhaps partly due to his advanced months (although he did not seem to be past his prime). He allowed me to pick him right up, and hold him up to my cheek to talk to quietly. Unfortunately, I also had to apologize to him for not being able to bring him "home" with me, because even though the plan was that he would live in my office at work, where I already had one mouse contentedly in residence with approval of my employer, the shelter had to obtain permission from the owner of the house where I roomed. Well, that house had a strict NO ANIMALS policy, and the shelter would not bend its rules to fit the conditions. I had to leave the little guy behind, and it still makes me sad.

If you were to adopt a senior mouse the time together with him will not be long. You seem to already understand that, and want to give him a real home anyway. So now the other considerations are (1) making sure he gets proper care for health difficulties that lie ahead, (2) the inevitable grief you will experience when he must leave you, and (3) convincing your mother that you have thought about these things seriously and clearly, that you feel you are able to handle them responsibly, and that you believe the little fellow deserves the home you can give him for the rest of his days.

by River Mon 18 Dec 2017, 1:03 pm

1.5 is pretty old -- mice can live anywhere between 1-2 years on average, but 3 years is pretty common, too -- so the likelihood is he won't be with you very long. My mouse died at a year and eight months, but another is at a year and seven months and doing fine for the most part.

You'll probably have a few months (maybe even a year), but you'll be able to spend time with him, and that's enough. He'll have a good life, it's satisfying work.

With old mice, they tend to lose weight, decrease their activity and become a bit 'scraggly' in appearance.

I would adopt him. If it doesn't work out for long, there will be other mice if you want them.

by ILoveMice47 Mon 18 Dec 2017, 3:20 pm

Thank you so much for your replies, I talked more with my mom and I will be adopting him this Friday!

by Peachy Mon 18 Dec 2017, 3:30 pm

Yay! I agree with everything already said. I adopted a boy that passed a couple months later, right before Christmas, but it was so nice to have that time with him. He was such a sweetie and after being born and raised in the shelter, I was glad to finally give him a forever home. Adopting senior pets knowing what you're risking takes a lot of love; I'm sure he'll have a great life with you!

by Darkly_Innocent Tue 19 Dec 2017, 4:23 pm

I'm so glad to hear you will be adopting him! He will be much happier with you! Good on you!

by Rodents rock! Tue 19 Dec 2017, 9:47 pm

I'm very happy to hear you are going to be adopting the older mouse. No matter how much time he has left, he will so appreciate having a real & loving home and it will be very fulfilling for you.

Welcome to the forum, happy to have you here! Looking forward to getting to know you and your new little man when you pick him up! Can't wait to see pictures. Very Happy

Do you know anything about his past? How he came to be at the shelter?

I recently adopted a Syrian hamster who is estimated to be about a year old, from Craigslist. He had spent the first part of his life in a tiny cage that wasn't big enough for any type of rodent. Had basically just enough room to turn around. The wheel was so small he couldn't even fit in it. After I saw the photos of his living conditions, I had to rescue him and give him the best rest of his life possible. His name is Bear and he is an absolute sweetheart. He now lives in a huge bin cage and has a big wheel to run on! And he gets lots of attention. I'm so happy to have him here.

So with your new mouse, he will steal your heart just as Bear has stole my heart. I believe quality of life is more important than quantity of life. Your new little guy is going to have a great quality of life with you!

by CinnamonPearl Sun 24 Dec 2017, 11:09 am

I adopted a two year old mouse once! I only got to have him for a month before he passed, but it was worth it. He was an aggressive thing when I got him, he wouldn't just bite but would latch onto you with his teeth when he was surprised, but in the month I had him, he became immensely calmer and tamer. I feel like I could have broken the habit completely if we'd had more time. But alas! Adopting an older mouse can be hard on the soul, but it's just as fulfilling as getting a younger one.

by scaredymouse Sun 24 Dec 2017, 11:52 am

I got a sickly 1 1/2 year old mouse a while back and he lived to be about 26 months old. You never know. But I'm glad to hear your getting him. I wouldn't let age stop me. I often adopt animals that are older on purpose. They make wonderful pets, they are calm and often more affectionate than the young ones.