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Found wild mice in my apartment. Can I keep them as pets safely?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Small Animal | Mouse | Male

I have wild mice in my apartment. I might like to keep them as pets, but I am very concerned about them transmitting lice, mites, ticks, or fleas to me, my cats, and my clothing and property. How real is that concern?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on July 16th, 2022

I do not recommend it. Wild mice can carry many diseases including hantavirus, leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV), Tularemia, and Salmonella. It's a very real concern with keeping these wild animals, and I highly recommend getting an exterminator in to get rid of them. I hope this helps.

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4Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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