{"topic_id":"exotic_enrichment_rat_mouse","category":"exotic-enrichment","context":"---\ntopic_id: exotic_enrichment_rat_mouse\ncategory: exotic-enrichment\ntitle: \"Rat Mouse — enrichment (owner-practical care, Merck Veterinary Manual pet-owner)\"\nlang: en\nsource: \"Merck Veterinary Manual pet-owner version (merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets), first-hand consumer care text saved to source_file; paraphrased derived fact summary per COPYRIGHT_POLICY §3. Pulled 2026-08-01.\"\nsource_file: pdf-raw/owner-care/merck_rat_mouse.txt\ndate_parsed: 2026-08-01\ntokens_estimated: 840\nverification:\n  method: paraphrase\n  claims: 12\n  passed: 12\n  date: 2026-08-01\nrecovered: false\npath: exotic-enrichment/exotic_enrichment_rat_mouse/01_exotic_enrichment_rat_mouse.md\nsource_document: \"Merck Veterinary Manual — pet owner version (all-other-pets)\"\ncitation:\n  authority: \"Merck Veterinary Manual (merckvetmanual.com), pet owner version\"\n  title: \"Rat Mouse — enrichment (owner-practical care, Merck Veterinary Manual pet-owner)\"\n  url: \"https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets\"\n  retrieved: \"2026-08-01\"\n  ref: \"Merck Veterinary Manual pet-owner version — rat mouse care\"\n  doc_type: \"professional veterinary manual (consumer version)\"\n  needs_review: false\nlicense: paraphrase\ncopyright_note: \"Source is a copyrighted, non-Open-Access animal-care reference (see citation); per COPYRIGHT_POLICY §3 all claims are paraphrased derived fact summaries (numbers and proper nouns preserved, sentences rewritten), not verbatim quotations.\"\nauthority_tier: T3\nauthority_tier_basis: \"T3:vet-ref\"\nauthority_tier_date: 2026-08-04\n---\n\n# Rat Mouse — enrichment (owner-practical care, Merck Veterinary Manual pet-owner)\nSource: a copyrighted, non-Open-Access animal-care reference (named in the citation). Per COPYRIGHT_POLICY §3, the points below are paraphrased derived fact summaries: numerical values and proper nouns are preserved from the source, but sentences are rewritten and not quoted verbatim.\n\n## Claims\n\n- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* The enclosure needs space for exercise plus feeding and nesting areas.\n- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Rats may chew through wood and escape.\n- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Wire climbing shelves should have openings no wider than ½ × ½ inch.\n- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Powder-coated wire cages with solid metal shelves and a plastic tray base are easy to clean and rats enjoy climbing the levels.\n- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Bottle holders with chew guards are available.\n- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Routine exercise is needed for good health.\n- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* A pet rat needs a suitable cage, a balanced diet, and opportunity for exercise and socialisation with its owner to stay healthy.\n- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Rats are very active and enjoy exercise and play.\n- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Wheels, tubes, ladders and climbing blocks provide stimulation.\n- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* A rat exercise wheel should be at least 12–14 inches in diameter.\n- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Wheels should have a smooth (not perforated) surface to avoid trapping toes.\n- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* The cage should be large enough for toys and free movement.\n---\n## License & attribution\n\nSource: a copyrighted, non-Open-Access animal-care reference (named in the citation below). Per COPYRIGHT_POLICY §3, every claim above is a paraphrased derived fact summary (numbers and proper nouns preserved, sentences rewritten), not a verbatim quotation.\n\n- https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets","sources":["exotic-enrichment — Rat Mouse — enrichment (owner-practical care, Merck Veterinary Manual pet-owner) (retrieved 2026-08-01)"],"source":{"authority":"exotic-enrichment","title":"Rat Mouse — enrichment (owner-practical care, Merck Veterinary Manual pet-owner)","url":"https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets","retrieved":"2026-08-01","ref":"","doc_type":"official PDF","source_document":"Merck Veterinary Manual — pet owner version (all-other-pets)","verification_file":"pdf-raw/owner-care/merck_rat_mouse.txt"},"source_document":"Merck Veterinary Manual — pet owner version (all-other-pets)","source_file":"pdf-raw/owner-care/merck_rat_mouse.txt","trust":{"authority_tier":"T3","fidelity":"paraphrase","license":"paraphrase","display_grade":"B"},"tokens_estimated":608,"generated_at":null,"tip":"Use /api/v1/topics to discover more topics. /api/v1/nutrient for precise single-point queries. /api/v1/cross_compare for 2-3 standard comparisons."}