Mice and Rats
Rats vs. mice differences
Learn the key differences between mice and rats and get tips to prevent them.
Updated: May 14, 2025
Rats and mice may seem similar, but identifying which rodent is in your home is key to effective control. Each species has distinct behaviors, habits, and preferences that require tailored strategies for control. Learn how to tell them apart, understand their differences, and discover the best ways to address infestations.
Jump to section:
Identifying rats and mice by looks
Rat and mice diets and eating habits
Rat vs. mice lifespans and litters
Diseases transmitted by rats vs. mice
Tips to help prevent and remove mice and rats
Professional rodent control solutions
Identifying rats and mice by looks
While rats and mice share some similarities in appearance, such as their long tails and sharp teeth, several key features can help you distinguish between the two at a glance.
Size: Mice are smaller, typically measuring 3-4 inches long and weighing less than an ounce as adults. Rats, on the other hand, are much larger, with bodies measuring 9-11 inches and weighing up to a pound as adults.
Head shape: A mouse’s head comes to a sharp point, appearing small in proportion to its body. Rats have a broader, wedge-shaped head that looks more proportional to their size.
Eyes and ears: Mice have large, prominent eyes and ears relative to their head size, while rats have smaller, beadier eyes and smaller ears compared to their heads.
Fur: Mice typically have smooth, soft fur in light brown, gray, or white shades. Rats often have rougher, coarser fur in darker tones, such as brown, gray, or black.
Feet: Rats have larger, more robust feet with sharp claws, while mice have smaller, more delicate feet.
Tail: Mice have slender, fur-covered tails that are roughly the same length as their bodies. Rats have thicker, hairless, and scaly tails, also about as long as their bodies.
Rat vs. mouse poop
Rodent droppings are often the first sign of a rat or mouse infestation. Their droppings each have distinct characteristics that can help you identify the culprit.
Mouse droppings: Mouse feces are about the size of a grain of rice, about ¼ of an inch long, with pointed ends. These droppings are typically found in larger quantities and are scattered near food sources, nesting areas, or along their travel paths.
Rat droppings: Rat feces are larger than mouse droppings, measuring about ½ to ¾ inches in length with more of a brick-like, blunt, or football shape. Roof rat droppings have pointed ends and a slight curl to them. Rat droppings are usually fewer in number compared to mouse droppings and are often found near feeding sites or hidden in less accessible areas like basements or crawl spaces.
Regardless of which rodent is responsible, it’s important to handle and dispose of droppings with caution. Wear protective gloves and a mask, and use an EPA-registered disinfectant to clean the area safely, as rodent feces can carry diseases that pose risks to humans.
Rat and mice diets and eating habits
While both rodents are opportunistic feeders, the food preferences and eating behaviors of rats and mice differ significantly.
What they eat: Mice typically favor grains, seeds, fruits, and carbohydrates, including fresh options like bread, bagels, and raw flour. Although omnivorous, they rarely eat meat. Rats, on the other hand, are less selective and consume a wider range of foods. In addition to grains, seeds, and fruits, rats may scavenge for meat, trash, pet food, and even animal carcasses when necessary.
Eating behaviors: Mice prefer to nibble small amounts of food throughout the night, often testing different items to find the best option. This grazing behavior allows them to stay alert to predators. Rats tend to be more deliberate, eating larger quantities of food at once. They’re also known to hoard food in hidden locations.
Day vs. night activity: Both rats and mice are nocturnal, meaning they are most active after sundown. Their nighttime foraging habits allow them to avoid predators and take advantage of human inactivity, making it more challenging to spot their presence during the day.
Do rats eat mice?
Rats, particularly when food is scarce, are known to prey on mice. This behavior is more common among larger rat species and highlights their aggressive survival strategies.
Habitats
Rats and mice have distinct nesting preferences that reflect their habits and environments.
Mice: Mice prefer to build their nests close to reliable food sources, often inside walls, behind appliances, or in kitchen cabinets. They use soft, fibrous materials like paper, insulation, fabric, and dry grass to create cozy nests. In urban settings, mice are commonly found in homes and other buildings where food and shelter are readily available.
Rats: Some rat species, like Norway rats, are burrowers, creating nests underground or beneath clutter such as debris piles or storage boxes. Roof rats, however, prefer elevated nesting spots, such as attics, rafters, or tree branches. Rats are more likely to be found in suburban or rural areas, but they thrive in urban settings when given access to food and shelter.
Signs of rodent activity in homes
Droppings near food sources or nesting areas
Gnaw marks on furniture, walls, or food packaging
Scratching or scurrying sounds, especially at night
Grease marks or tracks along walls and floors
Nesting materials like shredded paper or fabric in hidden spaces
Rat vs. mice lifespans and litters
The life cycle of rats and mice varies significantly in lifespan and reproduction, which impacts how infestations grow and spread.
Lifespan: In the wild, rats generally live about one year, with predation and environmental hazards limiting their survival. Indoors, rats can live up to three years due to fewer threats. Mice have a similar outdoor lifespan of about one year, but in the safety of homes, they can live two to three years.
Reproduction and litter sizes: Mice are prolific breeders. A female mouse can produce 5-10 litters annually, with each litter containing 5-12 pups. Rats, while slightly less prolific, still produce 4-6 litters per year, with each litter containing 6-10 pups. Mice reach sexual maturity at 6 weeks, while rats take about 12 weeks, allowing both species to quickly expand their populations.
Breeding behaviors: Mice often breed throughout the year when indoors but limit reproduction to spring, summer, and fall outdoors due to harsh winter conditions. Rats follow a similar breeding pattern, with their mating behavior influenced by food and water availability.
Diseases transmitted by rats vs. mice
Rats and mice are known to spread various diseases that can pose serious risks to human health. While both species can contaminate food and surfaces through their droppings, urine, and saliva, the specific diseases they transmit and their impacts can differ.
Diseases transmitted by rats: Rats are carriers of diseases such as leptospirosis, salmonellosis, hantavirus, and rat-bite fever. Leptospirosis can lead to flu-like symptoms and, in severe cases, organ damage. Rat-bite fever, caused by bacteria in their saliva or droppings, can result in fever, vomiting, and muscle pain. Plague, although rare today, has historically been linked to rats and their fleas.
Diseases transmitted by mice: Mice are commonly associated with hantavirus, a potentially fatal respiratory disease caused by inhaling particles from their urine, droppings, or nesting materials. Like rats, mice can also spread salmonellosis and lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV), a virus that can cause neurological issues in severe cases.
Tips to help prevent and remove mice and rats
Preventing and eliminating rodents starts with taking proactive measures. Follow these tips to keep your home rodent-free:
Seal entry points: Inspect your home for cracks, gaps, and holes larger than a quarter of an inch, and seal them with steel wool or caulk. Pay special attention to doors, windows, vents, and utility entry points.
Store food securely: Keep food in sealed containers and clean up crumbs and spills promptly to eliminate attractants.
Declutter your home: Remove piles of debris, cardboard, and clutter that can serve as hiding or nesting spots for rodents.
Eliminate outdoor attractants: Store firewood away from the house, clear brush and leaves, and maintain trimmed vegetation near your home.
Set traps strategically: Place traps along walls and near suspected rodent activity. Use bait that attracts rodents, such as peanut butter or seeds.
Address water sources: Fix leaks, dry out damp areas, and ensure proper drainage around your home to make your property less appealing to rodents.
Professional rodent control solutions
Whether you’re dealing with rats or mice, addressing a rodent infestation quickly is essential to prevent property damage and health risks. Terminix’s professional rodent control services can accurately identify the type of rodent, locate entry points, and create a customized treatment plan to eliminate the problem and prevent future infestations. If you’ve noticed signs of rodents in your home, schedule a free inspection today.
