Laboratory mice are the most widely used research animals globally - enrichment interventions improve welfare while simultaneously improving research quality by reducing stress-related variability.
Laboratory mouse welfare refinement demonstrates one of the clearest cases where welfare and science quality are aligned. Enriched housing reduces chronic stress, normalises neuroendocrine function and reduces inter-individual variability - all of which improve research quality. Nesting material provision, now standard in many facilities, dramatically improves thermoregulation, reduces anxiety and provides natural behaviour expression for minimal cost. Social housing requirements address the welfare harm of isolation. The 3Rs framework - Replace, Reduce, Refine - mandates consideration of welfare in all mouse research. Continued refinement research is essential as the scientific and welfare community works toward higher standards.