When we hear mice we mostly think of cheese, but what if there was more into this study that most of us don't know about. I have pulled out all the knowledge I could find and put it in my own words below. Enjoy.
CONTENTS:
1. What is in cheese that is bad for mice?
2. What effect does cheese have on mice?
3. Do mice like cheese?
4. Where did the myth about mice liking cheese come from?
5. Bibliography
1. What is in cheese that is bad for mice?
Mice, like most of the small mammals on our planet earth are lactose intolerant. Lactose intolerant means that they can't eat dairy products, things that contain a lot of milk from animals. since cheese is made mostly out of animal milk it has bad effects on the mouse.
2. What effect does cheese have on mice?
When mice react to cheese they will either get the runs ( diarrhoea ) or have an upset stomach. They may experience constipation or dehydration. Scratches may appear on your mouse when the skin starts to react making them itch. If they keep eating cheese it most likely they will die.
3. Do mice like cheese?
Though mice will usually eat anything that goes in their mouths, they would rather eat other things like fruit and grains than cheese. In the mouse's natural environment cheese wasn't around so they never adapted to eating it on a regular bases. Anyway cheesed is far to rich in taste and smell for them to eat. So mice could eat it but they don't like the taste and smell of it to eat it on a regular bases.
4. Where did the myth about mice liking cheese come from?
In the old days when the house mice went to the pantry to find food the only thing that could be eaten was cheese for the meat was salted and hung up, also grains where stored in air tight jars. No wonder the owners of the house would find mice nibbling on their cheese, for it was that or starvation.
5. bibliography:
http://www.allaboutmice.co.uk/foods-to-avoid/
forgot the other resources I used but may update this if find out.
forgot the other resources I used but may update this if find out.