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If you live in the southern or eastern part of the US, you’re probably familiar with the opossum, colloquially known as the possum. The species in the US is the opossum, while the true possum is native to Australia.
While many people view the opossum as a pest, it is the only marsupial in the United States. Possums are omnivores known for eating pests like ticks. However, they sometimes get into trouble, eating eggs and chickens and stealing fruits and veggies from home gardens. Should you worry about a possum hurting your cat? The chances of your cat being attacked by a possum are low, but they can attack them if they feel threatened.
Do Possums Attack Cats?
Opossums are extremely docile but very shy, so they tend to avoid interactions with animals and people. They are especially wary of animals their size or larger, including cats. Possums are most active at night, which is often true for cats, so your outdoor cat may encounter one. If cornered or threatened, a possum can bite or attack your cat.
The primary defense mechanism that possums use, though, is playing dead. Playing dead is an involuntary action that occurs when a possum is stressed or threatened. When in this state, they lack reflexes and, by all appearances, appear dead. Most of the time, whatever threatens the possum will lose interest once it believes it is dead.

Should I Worry if My Cat Encounters a Possum?
Ideally, you should prevent interactions between your cat and any wildlife, but possums are attracted to cat food. If you have a cat that lives outdoors or spends time outdoors, an encounter with a possum is possible.
The good news is that possums very rarely carry rabies, but you should still make sure your cat is up to date on their rabies vaccine. Although the cause of this isn’t completely understood, it’s believed that the possum’s low body temperature makes it an unsuitable vector for the disease.
Although rabies is a low concern with possums, they can carry other diseases, like leptospirosis. It is a deadly zoonotic disease, which means that it can pass to humans. They can also spread diseases after consuming infected animals.
How to Deter Possums
If you want to keep opossums away from your cat, there are a few steps you can take. The first is to ensure that all cat food is kept indoors. Consider putting your cat’s food bowl behind a cat door or somewhere else other animals can’t reach. Make sure your trash cans are closed, and consider adding fencing around your garden. You may also have to avoid putting food in your compost bin.
You also need to remove places for possums to hide and live, so keep bushes and trees trimmed back. Keep firewood stacked tightly to prevent denning, block crawl spaces and areas under stairs and porches, and consider adding a motion-activated sprinkler system to deter possums. Motion lights and loud noises can also deter possums.

In Conclusion
Possums are gentle and beneficial animals, and the odds of one attacking your cat are low, but a possum may attack if threatened. Do everything you can to protect your cat from all wildlife, including possums. This will reduce the risk of injuries and disease spread between wildlife, your cat, and all members of your household. Keep your cat up to date on all vaccines to reduce the spread of disease.
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Featured Image Credit: Scottslm, Pixabay