Baby Opossum Found Inside Living Room Sofa Clings to Cat for Comfort
Having a pet door for your dog or cat can be incredibly convenient. It saves you the time and inconvenience of going to and from the door a dozen times a day, and it gives your pet significantly more freedom. What you may not consider, though, is that it gives other critters more freedom, too.
As one cat owner discovered, local wildlife isn't as hesitant to use a pet door as you may think. Toni has actually gotten used to opossums letting themselves in through the cat door, and so have her friendly cats! In fact, orange tabby Mr. Oliver was the friendliest host to a baby opossum who found themselves stuck inside Toni's couch on March 27. The little critter wasn't too happy to be in such a strange situation, but the cat's gentle comfort gave the baby a place to rest until Toni could make a plan.
Aww! The baby opossum seems very at home when nuzzled into Oliver's soft fur. It's almost impossible to resist the adorable baby! I'd be petting the opossum just like Toni did, but I think holding onto the cat was much more comforting. It probably reminded the little one of holding onto Mom!
Related: Woman Stunned to Find Possum Hiding in Her Artificial Christmas Tree
Once I got over how precious this scene was, it sunk in just how impressive and calm this cat was. Oliver hardly looked at the baby animal suddenly gripping his side, and he didn't seem to mind the company one bit. How in the world could this orange cat be so desensitized?
Clearly, there's more to the story than meets the eye. If the baby opossum was in the couch, how did it get there? Toni guessed that the baby fell off of Mom as she came in through the cat door, which is something I would love to see. Luckily, Toni caught one of her local opossums (not the mama) on video using the door!
LOL! This certainly isn't the animal I'd expect to see coming through the dog door, but this is a regular occurrence in this animal-friendly home.
The Benefits of Opossums
As shocking as it would be to have a wild animal neighbor stop by for a visit, opossums (or possums) are known to be harmless to people. Although they bare their teeth when feeling threatened, these animals almost always 'play possum' or emit an odor instead of biting.
In fact, there are actually several benefits to having an opossum in your yard (and maybe even in your home). These animals eat many common pests, including ticks and other bugs, and are immune to Lyme disease. They can be an effective form of pest control, even if you're not comfortable letting them in your home like Toni does. But if one ever does find its way into your house--please treat it with kindness!
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