Do Cats Attack Possums – Can They Coexist?

You will rarely see a possum wandering around your neighborhood, so it would most likely startle you to see one. You see their glowing eyes looking back at you, and you start to wonder what creature is lurking outside. Lucky for you, possums are very non-aggressive animals. They may hiss at you to try to scare you away, but if you get any closer to them, they will most likely play dead until you go away. But, what if you have a cat? And if you let your cat outside, will the possum get aggressive with them? Do cats attack possums?

Generally, cats do not attack possums. Due to a possum’s docile nature, cats can form a companionship with them. In rare instances, a cat may attack young possums if they view them as prey.

In general, your cat is not going to attack a possum. That being said, if they are feeling threatened or defensive of their home, then they may attack in defense. But your cat is never going to hunt down a possum to attack.

Do Cats Scare Away Possums

Cats are very helpful in scaring away possums. Possums are very docile creatures that tend to avoid conflict. Cats are more predatory, and the creatures around them can sense it. If a possum came near a cat, it would probably play dead and hope that the cat leaves it alone. Or, much like cats, they do hiss as a warning to attackers and in an attempt to scare them off.

Some websites recommend using cat fur to ward of possums. If you find that possums frequent your home, you can take some of your cat’s fur off of the brush and scatter it outside to scare away the possums. Especially if they are starting to cause damage by chewing on various parts of your home, you can put clumps of fur in those areas, and the damage will likely stop because the possums will look for somewhere else to go instead. When you brush your cat, consider saving their fur instead of throwing it away so you can have it available for situations like this.

Can Possums Make Cats Sick

Possums can pass disease to cats, so it is best to keep them far away from each other. Possums have been known to carry:

• Eptospirosis
• Tuberculosis
• Relapsing fever
• Tularemia
• Spotted fever
• Toxoplasmosis
• Coccidiosis
• Trichomoniasis
• Chagas disease

Some of these diseases can be passed through urine, so even if your cat does not directly interact with the possum, they could still be at risk of contracting an illness. If you have a possum that created a nest outside and you still let your cat outside, they could accidentally step in the possum’s urine and ingest it when they go to clean themselves off.

Beyond these diseases, possums are also usually infested with fleas, ticks, mites, and lice. These bug very easily travel from animal to animal. If they get on your cat, your cat could also be bringing them to infest you and your home. It is best practice to keep cats away from possums to keep them safe. It is also a great idea to keep your cat on a flea and tick medicine to help prevent infestations.

Will Possums Kill Kittens

Possums will not kill kittens. They may attack a kitten if they feel threatened, but they rarely kill them. If in a truly dire situation with no other food as an option, a possum may kill and eat a kitten because they have been known to eat critters for survival.

Possums are opportunistic eaters. They like to go for things they know they can get. Attacking a cat would be too much of a struggle for them and ultimately more effort than they are willing to put into preparing their meal. Possums usually eat fruits, grasses, insects, small mammals, some birds, and fish.

Do Cats Get Along With Possums

In general, cats are not going to get along with possums. Potentially if your cat is really friendly and social, they may like a possum, but it is best to keep them apart anyway. Stray cats and wild possums seem to have a mutual respect for each other to stay out of each other’s way.

Possums have sharp claws and teeth, so they definitely can defend themselves. Cats have relatively sharp claws and teeth as well, but they tend to have a feistier attitude. It is more likely that a cat would attack a possum to assert dominance, and the possum would play dead.

Unless fighting over food, possums are usually very pacifistic animals. A mother possum will be more defensive over her young and more frequent to attack. Other than this, most possums avoid conflict.

How To Keep Possums Away From My Cat

The best way to keep possums away from your cat is to keep your cat inside. Allowing your cat to go outside immediately increases the risk that they could get into an altercation with a possum or contract a disease from them. Your cat is always safest inside of your home.

If you have possums frequently around your home, you may want to take some preventative measures to help ward off any damage they may cause to your property. Leaving your cat’s fur outside is a great way to deter possums because they will not want to deal with the trouble of interacting with a cat. You can also install motion sensor lights or sprinklers. These will help to startle them as they walk past without hurting them at all. There are also sonic repellents that emit an unpleasant noise to possums, so they stay away from the area.

In general, secure your trashes so they cannot get into them. Eventually, they will learn they can’t get into them and will move on to a new location. Do not leave debris in your yard that can act as a hiding place for them. Do not leave any pet food outside, or they will always be attracted to it. Invest in a store-bought repellent for more security around your property.

Things To Consider

Remember, animals can act differently depending on their environment, current situation, and the demeanor of the creature they are interacting with. Possums are typically very docile and not aggressive. It is rare to be attacked by one. But, it can still happen. If they are hungry enough or scared enough, they could very well attack.

Or if your cat is aggressive and attacks them first, they might react to defend themselves. Cats should never feel the urge to attack possums, but once again, all cats are different. Always be cautious and keep your cats away from possums to preserve the safety of both animals.