If you thought technical challenges on the Bake Off looked fiddly, that's nothing compared to baking cupcakes and vegan omelettes the size of your finger tip. One woman in the US did just that for a baby mouse she rescued from her garden.
Eliza found Gustav the mouse and his sister, Scarlett, abandoned in her garden at just two days old. They were too small and vulnerable to have any chances of surviving without their mother, so Eliza took them in and did some research.
Eliza found a way to feed them using a cut down paintbrush which was then dipped into a special powdered formula. The mice were fidgety at first, but started to get the hang of licking the food off the brush. She fed them every two hours around the clock, weighing them regularly to check they were taking in enough food to grow. Eliza also made sure they had hot water bottles constantly, as they weren't able to regulate their body temperature until they were at least a couple of weeks old.
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Unfortunately, both mice got sick and Gustav's sister sadly passed away. This made Eliza even more determined to see that Gustav made it. She continued to nurse him, checking on him every hour around the clock.
When he gained his strength and started to grow, Eliza got creative with his tank and built him his own little house. She bought things to make his surroundings feel like a natural habitat, such as wood shavings, plants and soil he could burrow through.
But of course, Gustav deserved to be spoiled after everything he'd been through, so Eliza also built him his own little house out of wood at the top of his garden kingdom. Inside, Gustav could chill out after a day of crawling through the log tunnels, burrowing underneath the pansies or playing on his little seesaw, and enjoy eating his "mini meals," freshly made by Eliza. We're talking mini smoothie bowls and tiny little cupcakes - all mouse-friendly of course. On the weekends, his smoothie bowl breakfast would even be upgraded to a mini vegan omelette.
You can see for yourself in the video below.
Gustav thrived and grew into a big fluffy mouse. Over his lifetime, his tank has been transformed many times and had many themes - from Hansel and Grettle to jungle canopy.
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Gustav lived and ate like a king right up until sadly, he passed away in August this year. A heartbroken Eliza said on Instagram he'd contracted a respiratory disease, and despite all the help from the emergency vets, he had to be put to sleep. Despite how sad this is, Gustav lived his best life with Eliza and wouldn't have survived another day without her.
Rest in peace Gustav, we hope mouse heaven bakes you lots of cupcakes!
Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@mouster.gustavTopics: no article matching, Wildlife, Cute Pets