Opossum Troubles

Hello everyone,
Its me problem Sally again ! I have to tell you I dont know what I would do without you guys helping me through my dilemmas with caring for all these outdoor cats.

For those of you who have read my posts, Crybaby made it fine through the animal bite when she was a kitten and through her recent encounter will a pan of motor oil. New Problem now....the other day I went out to feed my animals and all the cats were on the porch. I looked down and there was this oppossum walking slowly away from me. He/she then proceeded to crawl through the opening we have under the church house...where the cats stay warm at night!! The place where under the steps where they eat and the place they go to keep warm at not are two separate places, just to clarify things.

My husband, who tolerates these cats only because of me, had built an enclosure under my steps with a heavy door on the side for me to put food and a small cat size hole for them to crawl through, so they could eat without my brother in laws dogs bothering them. Well now I think that oppossum is actually getting in there and eating their food. Not to mention the fact that occassionally at night we hear a racket under the house. I think its the oppossum fighting with the cats! Have anyone had oppossum problems?

Also, many of you have given me addresses of animal rescue places. Most of them are hours away, The one I did call in Halladay, I keep leaving messages but no reply. I am really overwhelmed here because this cat population keeps growing. I even put in to Spay America for a spay certificate. Got some paper in the mail that said to fill out and send in. I did that and never a response. Ive called this Animal Rescue place here, hoping I could take some of the extra ones who decided to make my house their home there and also about 3 of the new kittens (which my mammy in law is unable to care for).

Im really getting frustrated here. :-(

Friend4Life (Crybabys Mommy)

Hmmm..that does sound frustrating....the only thing I can think to recommend is to contact the Best Friends Network 435) 644-2001 ext 123, or e-mail them at [email protected]

I used to keep a dish of food outside but Possums LOVE cat food. Do you have more than one? I would try to trap it-yes bait the trap with cat food but you might trap a cat instead. Could you make some type of flap to go over the hole for the cats??? Plus what to they sleep on?? Get some shredded paper, wood shavings (not bark). This will keep them warmer. Keep us posted. Why doesn't he want them inside?? Just because he was raised that way (like my husband was) it doesn't mean he can't change (MINE DID!!!!). Please keep us posted.

If you want something nice and smelly that wont attract a cat, but will attract the possum, you may want to try a basic and modified form of the Leadbeater's Mix for opossums fed in zoo's, modified by me for the person who doesn't have allthe ingredients off hand (vitamins, etc...). a version of the leadbeaters Mix I modifed for you found below. **Please note this is not recommended by me for a regular food for pet possums or sugar gliders, it's to attract and catch a wild possum**

1/2 cup Honey
1 Egg (boiled or scrambled
1/4 cup of Apple Juice
2 2 1/2 oz jar of chicken or beef babyfood
1/2 cup dry baby cereal
couple spoonfulls of yogurt

believe me, the scent will attract a possum from a mile away! hehe

In response to Gail.....my husband is 68 and I can tell you there is no way even one cat will ever be an inside cat here and there are over 10 on the property. In regard to the oppossum, I dont have any kind of trap to catch him in.

I suppose the most frustrating problem I have come across is the unresponsiveness of the West Tennessee Animal Rescue to my numerous phone messages left and unanswered emails. I certainly hate to take these animals to the shelter where they would meet with certain death.

That's a bummer. I do hope you try the suggestions to get get of the possums-I've had them in my garage and I know that they are ugly and nasty. Good luck.

I am so sorry you are having such a problem with the possums.
I have had possums and cats for years now with no problems that I am aware of. They eat and drink and live together under my trailer. I have seen them, even with kittens and baby possums. They are all coexisting together. I recently read that possums are quite passive creatures unless they are cornered. They are very very resistant to most all diseases and they are even immune to rabies. The article also said that their favorite food is slugs. EEEEYUCK!!!

As for a trap. You can usually borrow or rent one from either the animal shelter or from a rescue group. I think they charge $25.00 here and then when you return it you get back $20.00 of it. I have borrowed traps before from a rescue group in my area. I just had to sign a paper that I would return it to them.

Good luck with your possums. I do hope that it all works out for you.

What a problem that you have! I agree with Nan, my dad had an opposum family that hung out with his ferals, and no problems for 7 years. But you do need help with the overpopulation problem. Bless you for sticking it out this far! You might try reaching Furr Angels (a cat/dog group based in TN) and/or contacting www.alleycat.org, which has lots of links and resources. My sis moved to Lebanon,TN last year, and adopted several kittens, I'll have her ask for suggestions from the rescue groups that she helped out. I send you prayers & thoughts for strength, endurance and encouragement! Susan

Originally Posted by catsknowme

What a problem that you have! I agree with Nan, my dad had an opposum family that hung out with his ferals, and no problems for 7 years. But you do need help with the overpopulation problem. Bless you for sticking it out this far! You might try reaching Furr Angels (a cat/dog group based in TN) and/or contacting www.alleycat.org, which has lots of links and resources. My sis moved to Lebanon,TN last year, and adopted several kittens, I'll have her ask for suggestions from the rescue groups that she helped out. I send you prayers & thoughts for strength, endurance and encouragement! Susan

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Sue, I would appreicate ANY information your sister can give me. The situation has become practically hopeless here. I took a headcount the other day. I actually have 12 cats Im caring for on this property. Its really not fair to my husband to have to pay to feed all these guys. I feel bad because He really doesnt care for animals and everytime he goes out the door they get under his feet. Hes hinted about me taking some of them to the shelter, but he also knows Ive been trying so hard to do something with reducing the numbers. God love him for being so patient. For myself, Ive just feel like throwing up my hands. I keep calling and leaving messages at several places I thought could help me (which I got from friends on this site). I finally received ONE phone call back the other day from West TN Animal Rescue. For one, they said they do not accept ferral cats. For two, the girl said she would call a place in Nashville (sounded like she knew the girls who worked there) it was a group called Neuter It, to see if they could help. She said they actually came out and would neuter all the ferrals here. I dont want to have to keep asking my husband to purchase food for 12 cats, but at least if we could stop the population growth for awhile, perhaps I could find some homes for some. By the way, the ONE person who called me? Well she said she would call them that night and get some information and would email me....never did i hear from her again....and I didnt even catch her name.

By the way, anyone want to adopt a kitten in the Memphis/Jackson area of TN. I'll even deliver ! They are 4 months old and so cute. They are staying in my mammy in laws car shed still for the most part, but my brother in law who lives next door just got himself a rottweilder puppy and I can forsee trouble ahead for these kittens safety.

The oppossum I believe has gone by the way, as I havent seen him at dusk anymore. But the other night we had this skunk under the house, and guess what? Yup. I kept smelling the cats the next morning to see which one startled him. Everyone checked out.....I wonder if it was the oppossum