Mice and rats are both members of the rodent family but they are different species. Mice are small rodents with pointed noses while rats are larger rodents with blunt noses. Both animals are omnivorous meaning they eat both plants and animals.
Mice are born blind and deaf but they grow quickly and are weaned in about three weeks. At six weeks old they are fully grown and ready to start having babies of their own. Rats are born blind and deaf as well but they take longer to mature. Rats are weaned in four to six weeks and they don’t reach full size until they are about three months old.
The average lifespan of a mouse is two to three years while rats typically live for three to five years. However both animals can live much longer in captivity. Mice and rats are both susceptible to a variety of diseases including those that are specific to their species such as the hantavirus.
While mice and rats are different animals they are often lumped together because they are both considered pests. This is because both mice and rats can carry diseases and they are known to damage property by chewing on wires and other materials.
