2.5 years ago, I was called cruel for keeping three male mice together. Happy Birthday! They are now 3 years old and still happily bonded.
Hi everyone,
A little over two and a half years ago, I adopted a trio of male mice from my local Humane Society. They were littermates, brothers, and tightly bonded. When I posted about them, the reaction I got from the community was incredibly harsh. People told me I was a horrible, cruel owner, that it was a guaranteed death sentence, and that I needed to separate them immediately.
The Humane Society had specifically refused to split them up because of how strong their bond was. I had a choice to make: listen to the aggressive comments online, or trust the professionals at the rescue who actually knew my mice.
I chose to trust the Humane Society, and all I can think now is: thank god I didn't listen to the internet.
Today, all three brothers are alive, over 3 years old, and still living together peacefully. They have never had a fallout. They have spent their entire extraordinarily long lives keeping each other company.
I understand why the "never house males together" rule exists, and I know territorial aggression is a very real danger for unbonded males. But it is not an absolute, black-and-white rule. Bonded littermates who have never been separated are the exception, and tearing apart a happy family just to satisfy a rigid online rule would have robbed them of years of enrichment and comfort.
I’m posting this as a success story, and as a reminder that nuance exists in pet care. Sometimes, the rescue workers know exactly what they are doing. If you have a peacefully bonded group of brothers, don't let online panic pressure you into breaking their hearts.
Here’s to my three old men!