From house mice to Folkmanis puppets: mice have been a favorite throughout history

All domesticated mice come from the descendants of the common house mouse whose scientific name is Mus musculus. In fact, the word mouse comes from the Sanskrit word ‘musha’ which means thief. The origin of the common house mouse is Asia. Today, mice are now found all over the world and mice generally thrive where there are populations of people. The mouse is also a member of the rodent family of the order Rodentia.

Mice are believed to have started living with humans 10,000 years ago. The association with humans and interaction seems to go back to the dawn of history. Archaeologists have also found Egyptian bowls and other artifacts that contain images of colored mice. These artifacts have indicated that they kept mice as pets because they were thought to possess supernatural powers. They adored these animals and believed that they were born from the mud of the Nile and had healing properties. Other societies believed that mice could cure diseases such as measles, whooping cough, and smallpox. Even recorded Biblical references included mouse plagues. And mice were also used in various other writings, such as Aesop’s fables, which are the basis of many puppet shows today.

During the 1700s, the mouse fantasy really began. The first domesticated mice were kept in the royal palaces of Japan and China. In Japan, they were gaining popularity as farm animals and also as pets. It was during this time that people were experimenting with reproduction to produce new colors. The booklet “Breeding curious varieties of the mouse” was written in 1878 by Chobei Zenya. This informational booklet included drawings and descriptions of variations in breeding programs. The brochure instructed breeders on how to create specific colors and varieties.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the popularity began to grow in Europe. In 1877, Walter Maxey, the father of the mouse fantasy, acquired his first mice in the UK. Later, in 1895, Maxey founded the National Mouse Club in England. This club set the standards for the different varieties and sponsored regular shows. The first show was in 1895 at Lincoln and was won by Miss Ursula Dickenson with a Dutch pair. This matter with the breeding of mice eventually led to the rediscovery of Mendel’s theories on genetics by the scientific community.

The mice eventually made it to America by sailing across the seas and are believed to have been introduced to North America by Spanish sailors. The mouse attraction is relatively young in the United States. The first mouse clubs in America were founded in the 1950s. Lately, the American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association was founded in 1983. There are now several clubs in the United States and many more around the world.

When most people think of house mice, unsurprisingly, they think of the classic “white mice”, but there are actually over 40 varieties. Most mothers are terrified that house mice will break loose and run around the house. Often times these mothers prefer mouse puppets and mouse stuffed animals over real ones. In fact, many manufacturers, such as Folkmanis, specialize in creating beautiful but realistic dolls and stuffed animals. Parents can use these puppets to teach their children the virtues of the mouse without having to put up with cleaning.

The main characteristic of mice is their front teeth that continue to grow throughout their lives. These paired teeth are called incisors. Mice have poor vision, and their activity patterns are highly dependent on smell, taste, touch, and hearing. They are excellent jumpers and are capable of jumping at least 12 inches vertically. Female mice are the best pets because their urine does not smell like the male’s. Mice are nocturnal in nature and highly social. They are active in the afternoon and at night, but sleep mainly during the day. They can reproduce as early as 8 weeks of age and can have a litter of up to 12 babies in three weeks. Mice can live for more than two years, while the average life expectancy is 1.5 to 2 years.

The most common type of mouse available as a pet is the house mouse and it is the result of hundreds of generations of careful breeding. These mice have been selectively bred to be calm and at the same time enhance the desirable qualities of mice. They are not carriers of any disease, but they also have little chance of surviving in the wild if they escape.

This current economic recession has affected many people. People have less time, money and space available for animals. People often turn to pocket pets, such as mice, as an ideal low-cost, low-maintenance alternative to keeping pets in their busy lives. House mice, both royal and luxurious, provide an outlet and a means to admire the virtues of the mouse.