Laboratory Animal Welfare

Laboratory Mouse Cage Enrichment Standards

Enrichment for laboratory mice significantly improves their welfare without compromising research validity, and is increasingly mandated.

Key Facts

Mice without enrichment show higher anxiety and stereotypic behaviour
Nesting material is the most consistently welfare-positive enrichment
Shelters reduce inter-mouse aggression and provide thermal comfort
Running wheels reduce stereotypies and support natural activity budgets
Enrichment effects on some research variables require careful study design

Welfare Considerations

Bare wire-bottom cages cause chronic stress in mice. Providing nesting material, shelters, and opportunities for natural behaviour is both ethically imperative and increasingly supported by regulatory bodies.

What You Can Do

Advocate for enrichment standards in institutions using lab animals
Support the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) in animal research
Choose research institutions with demonstrably high animal welfare standards