When and why did the idea that mice love cheese originate?

by T_at

I know that mice will eat cheese, but according to many online sources, this is because they'll eat pretty much anything with nutritional value.

There appear to be plenty of other foods that mice prefer to cheese, so where, when, and why did the popular depiction (such as in cartoons and comics) of mice loving cheese originate?

rummatumtum

There is a lot more to discuss on this topic, but it has been, at least somewhat, answered before here by u/throwouttwa and here by u/gamblekat.

Probably not as in-depth as you were hoping for, but read while you wait for a new response!