If you have pet rodents at home, you might want to decorate their environment. However, you’ll need to make sure the materials you use aren’t toxic! Otherwise, you could accidentally harm your pet.
Is acrylic paint safe for mice? Yes, most acrylic paints are safe for mice. You’ll need to make sure that you get a non-toxic product. Non-toxic acrylic paints shouldn’t harm mice, but you still won’t want to paint over items they’ll chew on.
You can use acrylic paint for decorating mice items! You’ll want to make sure you check the product before using it. Here’s everything you should know about acrylic paint and rodents!
How To Use Acrylic Paint on a Mouse Cage
Mice shouldn’t be able to chew on their cage easily, so it’s okay to paint it with acrylic! First, take your pet out of the cage and somewhere safe. You won’t want them inside the cage while it dries.
Remove all the bedding, food, toys, and other items from the cage. You may want to bring it outside so you don’t make a mess. Then, you can use a brush to apply color to the cage. You’ll want to keep it out of areas the mouse can easily reach.
My favorite and top pick is always Arteza Acrylic Paints. They have so many different colors, and the quality is amazing! I usually use Arteza Paints for all my projects.
Next, you’ll want to give the cage plenty of time to dry! Acrylic paint won’t take very long, but you’ll still want to give it as much time as possible. Make sure your pet is comfortable while the paint dries for a few hours.
You may want to add two coats of paint, then a clear sealant to ensure the paint doesn’t wash off when you clean the cage. Mod Podge is a great choice- it’s water-resistant and will make the color much more durable.
Make sure you add the Mod Podge when the cage has dried completely. Then, give it ample time to cure and harden. This process can take several days, so you’ll need to ensure you have another cage set up for your mouse!
You don’t want to put the mouse back in the cage while the paint or seal is wet. It’d be easier for your pet to smear the color or eat the paint.
You can set up an extra cage or tall bin for the mouse to spend some time in. If you have cats or other pets inside, make sure they can’t reach the mouse!
What Paint Is Safe for Mice and Rats?
Paints that don’t contain heavy metals are safe for mice and rats! You should check the ingredient list, ensuring that the pigment doesn’t come with any lead. If the product is non-toxic and safe for young children, it should be safe for your pet.
However, if you want to use the safest paint for your rodent, you should make your own! You’ll know there’s nothing harmful in the color that way.
You can make your own using food-safe dyes, like the ones you use to change the color of icing on a cake. The result will be edible, so it’s fine if your pet ingests some of it. However, many people don’t like this since the colors aren’t as vibrant as they are with non-toxic paints.
Soy paints are another option. They’re non-toxic and are a renewable resource, making them great for anyone to use at home! Although, they’re not as widely available in stores as acrylic paints are.
Can You Dye Mice Fur With Acrylic Paint?
You should not dye a mouse’s fur with acrylic paint! While it’s non-toxic, your mouse will hate it. Mice groom a lot, so they’re also sure to consume a lot of the paint while cleaning themselves.
Your mouse could also get paint in their eye during the dying process- something you wouldn’t want to happen! Some paints with non-toxic labels are still harmful to apply directly to a mouse. They can contain harmful ingredients to make a unique color.
In the past, dying pets’ fur with Kool-Aid was popular. However, Kool-aid contains a ton of sugar! It’d be sure to make your pet mouse sticky and uncomfortable. Plus, they’d eat all that sugar while grooming. Even if it’s less toxic than acrylic, you shouldn’t consider trying it!
However, you can use a pet safe fur dye paint like this one here.
It’s also not a good idea to bleach a mouse’s fur or use hair dye. These products contain even more chemicals than acrylics, which can be very harmful to the animal.
Overall, even with non-toxic acrylic paint, you should never use it to dye an animal’s fur. You can’t be sure that the mouse won’t have a bad reaction to it.
Is Acrylic Paint Toxic to Mice?
Acrylic paints shouldn’t be toxic to mice. Although, you should still check! You’ll want to make sure the paint doesn’t contain heavy metals, such as lead, and is safe for young children to use. If it meets those criteria, the paint is non-toxic.
Many acrylic paints have labels on them saying they’re non-toxic. However, you should still look at the ingredients before buying them. That way, you know it’s safe to use around your pet!
If you’re unsure what paint you can use, you can always ask your vet. Many people love creating DIY projects for their pets, so vets have already answered these questions tons of times! Your questions won’t seem unusual to them.
Additionally, if your mouse eats paint and you’re unsure whether it’s toxic to them, call your vet right away! It’s better to be safe than accidentally skipping treatment when your pet needs it.
Overall, acrylic paints aren’t toxic to mice. However, all rodents love to chew, so you still need to research the ingredients in the paint beforehand. You should always assume your mouse will eat some of the paint!
Chew Safe Paints for Mice
You won’t want your mouse to chew on most paints- even non-toxic acrylic ones! While they’re safe to be around and maybe nibble on, you won’t want to use them on a mouse chew toy. Instead, consider using food dyes.
Food dyes won’t stick to many surfaces, but they’re safer than painting a chew toy. If you want to paint other toys or decorations, non-toxic acrylics are fun. You’ll need to be aware that your mouse will still probably bite them.
Soy paint is another option. This paint consists of soy oil and non-toxic pigment. It’s safe for mice to chew on as well. That said, it’s a lot harder to find than acrylic paints!
There aren’t many “chew-safe” paints for mice and rats available today. If you suspect that your pet ate something toxic to them, contact a local vet right away! The sooner you call your rodent’s vet, the sooner they can treat your pet if they need help.
Final Thoughts
In short, acrylic paints are non-toxic and safe for mice and rats to be around. They don’t emit fumes that hurt them, although you’ll still want to take your pet out of the cage if you decide to paint it.
You won’t want to paint items your pet will want to chew, like their chew sticks or toys. Instead, you can paint the cage or their running wheel. Overall, acrylics are a great way to make custom changes to your rodent’s home!
Make sure to follow all my tips and recommended products to ensure your acrylic painted project turns out great! Also, don’t forget to check out my other articles for all your painting Q&A’s. Happy painting!