rescued a hurt baby mouse

Question
i found a baby mice being attacked by our cat Panda, Chloe i have named him/her. Chloes left eye is bleeding and she can't see from it well anyway. She is not eating her food and looks sick. we can't take her to the vet because i don't want her to become trash. I'm feeding her 'Whiskas milk Plus" I'm worried because it says 'lactase enzyme' in the ingredients. I don't want her to die but i don't know another way to save her. And she is only a baby. she's not even a thumb in length! She is so tiny! Can you please help me?

Answer
Dear Tijana,

I'm afraid the chances for an injured infant mouse to survive are quite slim, though it doesn't hurt to try.

I'm assuming Whiskas milk plus is kitten formula.  Other than wombat milk, which is what the other expert Cass uses, kitten milk is the best thing for infant mice.  When you say not even a thumb in length, I assume you mean the width of your thumb, not its length.  If it's its length, it's probably a baby rat-- or if it's fully furred with eyes open, it's a youth to an adult mouse.  For age, if the eyes are closed but it has a full coat of fur it's over a week old; if its eyes are open it's over two weeks old.  Mice only need to nurse until they are 3 weeks old, though a hand raised baby might like a couple of extra days to a week.

First off, put it in a safe place (best is aquarium-- must have lid!-- if you use a plastic box, drill big holes all over the lid) with some soft bedding (kleenex is ok; or shredded cloth, or cotton) and a warm cover such as (my favorite) a piece of soft cloth-- it needs darkness.  The cage should also be light during the day-- don't put it in a closed box.  The best way to keep it warm is with a heating pad on low.  Make sure it does not get hot.  A light can be used as well, with the bulb close to the cage.  Again, be very careful not to fry the mouse!  Make sure one part of the cage is warm and one cooler so it can move from an uncomfortable temperature.

You will need to feed it with a little syringe, eyedropper, watercolor paintbrush, or even paper towel dipped in the milk.  Every 2-3 hours is a minimum:  The mom feeds them every half hour!  Hold it by the 'scruff of its neck'-- that is, the loose skin just behind its head-- if it struggles in your hand.  Give it one drop at a time and wait a few seconds till it swallows before giving another.  Give it as much as it will eat.  If it doesn't have fur yet, you will see the white formula in its tummy when it is full!!  After feeding, use a cotton ball or Q-tip to gently rub its abdomen or genitals to help it to eliminate.  If it goes on its own you don't have to.

If, on the other hand, you have an adult, or when this one gets older, you can just leave crackers and seeds in the cage with it. Give it a tiny bowl of water- best is the top to a soda bottle, so it can't drown.

Best of luck with the little mouse.

squeaks,

Natasha