Every evening, a neighborhood cat I named Greyson visits for some snacks and love. With the colder weather, I bought a heated cat house, but she hasn’t used it yet. To my surprise, I found a possum comfortably settled in it instead of Greyson! I was initially shocked but found it somewhat cute until I worried about Greyson’s safety. I let her inside and shooed the possum away, who wasn’t too pleased and showed me its teeth. I felt a bit bad since the heated house must have been cozy for it.
Possums might look scary with their teeth, but they’re actually harmless and play dead when scared. They’re great for the environment, eating dead stuff and lots of ticks, which helps prevent diseases. They’re also nearly immune to rabies due to their low body temperature.
If you’re caring for the neighborhood cat, why not the possum too? They both deserve love and warmth.
@Denali
They also have poor eyesight. I’ve had young ones bump into me in the dark before realizing I was there and then quickly scurry away.
@Denali
Definitely a better neighbor than a mother-in-law!
@Denali
Love seeing all the possum positivity here!
@Denali
Did you know possums are marsupials like kangaroos and carry their young in a pouch?
@Denali
They do a lot of good for the ecosystem!
@Denali
My brother-in-law’s uncle has AGS and still eats meat despite the allergies!
@Denali
Actually, opossums don’t really eat ticks as commonly believed. They groom themselves and remove ticks, but don’t specifically hunt them.
Looks like you’ve got yourself a new pet! Congratulations on the opossum!
Possums need love too, but does the cat agree?
Think of the possum as a bonus self-heating pillow. They’re almost immune to rabies and are gentler than cats. If the cat minds, she’ll shoo the possum away herself.
Possums are generally harmless. My cat hangs out with a possum friend at night. Just watch out for fleas.
Sky said:
Possums are generally harmless. My cat hangs out with a possum friend at night. Just watch out for fleas.
Would a possum bite if I tried to pick it up?
Sky said:
Possums are generally harmless. My cat hangs out with a possum friend at night. Just watch out for fleas.
Would a possum bite if I tried to pick it up?
They might hiss or go limp but usually won’t bite hard. Their babies’ tails curl around your finger if you touch them, making them easy to lift gently.
@Sky
If you find a baby possum alone, it needs help. They don’t survive on their own if they’re very young.
Luca said:
@Sky
If you find a baby possum alone, it needs help. They don’t survive on their own if they’re very young.
In my experience, sometimes the mom comes back for them.
Luca said:
@Sky
If you find a baby possum alone, it needs help. They don’t survive on their own if they’re very young.
Life will find a way. Animals sometimes do unexpected things.
Congratulations on your new pet!