Frizzy Mouse

Coat and looks how to spot one

Frizzie: tightly waved, dense coat with curly whiskers

A mouse covered from nose to tail in thick, tightly waved or frizzed fur, with a few slightly coarser guard hairs poking out past the rest, and curly whiskers to match. The curl is strongest in youngsters. Frizzies often have a slightly chunkier build, and some also carry long hair.1

Personality what they are like

Coat type has no effect on character, so these are typical fancy mice: lively, curious and happiest with mouse company. With calm, gentle handling close to the ground they settle well and seldom nip, and the AFRMA expects every show mouse to be easy to handle.452

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Busy and quick, most active at night and around dusk and dawn. Offer a solid-surface wheel, ropes, branches, tubes and tunnels, and scatter part of the food so they can forage.567

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Mice keep their own coats in order, so no brushing is needed. Clean, dry bedding keeps the curls looking their best; spot-clean daily and do a full clean every one to two weeks.6

Home where they are happiest

A roomy, escape-proof cage with bar gaps under 5 mm, at least 2 cm of dust-free bedding plus paper or hay for nesting, hides with more than one exit, a solid wheel and climbing items. Keep it well ventilated, out of draughts and away from heat.6

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Complete mouse nuggets as the main food, with small portions of vegetables and fruit counted into the daily amount. Scatter some of the ration for foraging and provide fresh water from a bottle, checked daily.7

Company who they like around

Sociable animals that do best in stable, same-sex groups. Females usually live together easily; males are best kept with brothers they grew up with. Avoid swapping members in a settled group.84

The story where it all began

The Frizzie is one of the AFRMA's recognised coat varieties and also comes in a shiny Frizzie Satin form. Several curly genes exist in mice, each with its own pattern of inheritance and degree of curl in adults, which is why frizzies can look a little different from line to line.12

Recognised by the official bits

American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association (AFRMA)

Recognised varieties 'Frizzie' (tightly waved or frizzed, very dense coat with slightly harsh guard hairs and curly whiskers) and 'Frizzie Satin' (the same with satin sheen). The separate Frizzled variety has a short, velcro-like curl.1