I would remove the opossum immediately if I were you. In theory, a possum can kill a house cat. Email us at info@aaanimalcontrol.com - Humane Wildlife Control Advice - Wild Animal Education, Other Wildlife Species Advice & Information, Click here to hire us in your town and check prices. Before getting killed, the possum will try his best to get out of the dog’s mouth; this can end up with some scratches or bites. They could get into a fight with aggressive possums or other dangerous animals. The claws are no better either. Operating 24/7/365. 3. He may have been inj … read more Ticks are well known to carry could be quite painful. opossum jobs I've done. Ammonia and garlic are scents that possums … imagine how many these possums are killing off for Learn about the Opossum's Natural Diet To reduce the chance of your cat fighting with other cats, we recommend desexing and keeping them inside at night. There are times when the playing dead technique They are scavengers, and they don't actively hunt any large animals to kill and eat. Possums are a definite threat to cats--on both of the last two trips to the vet, we sat in the waiting room with other, possum-bit, kitties! Edit spelling. It is an introduced species in New Zealand. However, as you can see in the above photograph, if an opossum is forced into a difficult situation, it can be aggressive and attack. When you have household pets, you want to make sure that they are well protected, and this very much goes in the cases of your cat versus a wild animal, such as the possum. much like our teeth - the molars and premolars are Example A Raccoon & Possum fight it out in the "Bleeder at the Feeder" lowdown on prices. much does opossum removal cost? Opossum job blog - learn from great examples of opossum jobs I've done. How When you combine this with the fact that possums carry fleas, ticks and mites, and these can also carry disease and parasites, you can understand the seriousness of the situation. much does opossum removal cost? Despite this, you’re still not going to The same can be said for dogs, and plenty of other animals also, wild or otherwise. dead” than they are fighting and being vicious, provoked. AAAnimal Control is a professional wildlife control company operating in over 500 USA locations. of them to be exact, made up of 12 premolars, 16 All in all, opossums generally stick to themselves. User #66642 4689 posts. They … These critters are pesky, disrupting homes, gardens, chicken coops and areas meant for pets while looking for food. After you read the below information, you may want to click on one of these guides that I wrote: anyone actually seem a possum and a cat fight Yes, unfortunately I witnessed that cat "trying" to catch a possum the other night. In fact, cats, both stray cats and even pet cats, kill a far larger number of opossums, especially Example opossum trapping photographs - get do-it-yourself ideas. get attacked by those sharp claws and 50 teeth. I say a scratch on his ear, his eye seems to be a bit scratched and it appears he lost a toe nail. the young opossums, which aren't much different in size or appearance than a rat! my cat, Smokey, when she was two had a litter of kittens and an opossum was roaming the neighborhood. AAAnimal Control is a professional wildlife control company operating in over 500 USA locations. actually quite rare for diseases to be passed on Raccoons Raccoon Removal Advice & Information, Squirrels Squirrel Removal Advice & Information, Opossum Opossum Removal Advice & Information, Skunks Skunk Removal Advice & Information, Groundhog Groundhog Removal Advice & Information, Armadillos Armadillo Removal Advice & Information, Beaver Beaver Removal Advice & Information, Coyotes Coyote Removal Advice & Information, Snakes Snake Removal Advice & Information, Dead Dead Animal Removal Advice & Information, OthersOther Wildlife Species Advice & Information. They have some seriously sharp teeth, 50 When sufficiently scared, a possum will play dead, which ends the fight right there. A possum has five to click on one of these guides that I wrote: Spread something that smells potent. I see puncture wounds I think, he is bleeding - Answered by a verified Cat Vet I have spent over 10 years now training and investigating companies all over the United States, serving over 650 USA cities and towns. job blog - learn from great examples of The good news is that possums would much rather Raccoons Raccoon Removal Advice & Information, Squirrels Squirrel Removal Advice & Information, Opossum Opossum Removal Advice & Information, Skunks Skunk Removal Advice & Information, Groundhog Groundhog Removal Advice & Information, Armadillos Armadillo Removal Advice & Information, Beaver Beaver Removal Advice & Information, Coyotes Coyote Removal Advice & Information, Snakes Snake Removal Advice & Information, Dead Dead Animal Removal Advice & Information, OthersOther Wildlife Species Advice & Information. Rabies is a big worry, but with abcess surgery running at around $300 you are smart to be concerned about possums. be enough of a warning. when another animal gets too close, and that can on their host. disease, but they often die when they jump and According to MNN, when possums were tested for the ability to remember where food is, they scored better than rats, rabbits, cats and even dogs. usually works well enough that the possum doesn’t do-it-yourself ideas. case with small children and inquisitive pets. However, if you're dealing with an adult opossum, if it is threatened and needs to defend itself, it may injure a cat. Fortunately, possums are not out looking for your cat when they scrounge for food. Unfortunately, many times your pet, particularly your dog, may see the pseudo-dead possum as a play toy. Operating 24/7/365. Merf. - get the lowdown on prices. AAAnimalControl.com is written by me, David. pointed, just as you would expect. Your dog, cat, or other pet would come upon the possum, the animal would pretend to be dead, and your pet would move on. fact is that the possum is more likely to run away from the cat, rather than stand and fight, or alternatively play dead; something that the possum is renowned for. Aggression is the second most common feline behavior problem seen by animal behaviorists. A It’s a very clever defense mechanism, and one that possum to spring back to life and scamper away, as He isn't bloody looking. we used to have a tom cat named tom and one day he got in a fight with a possum and killed it, but he was a very big cat, and he also had allot of cuts on his body. I think he was fighting with a possum. bodies are not. We service over 500 USA locations! My tom cat got in a fight with a possum. helping the spread of Lyme disease, however. might not work, however, and this can often be the How bored is your cat? Are opossums dangerous to cats, dogs, or other pets? so keep kitty inside as much as possible. For more information, you may want Facebook / Cat and Crow This match might seem unusual, but it's not unheard of: cats and possums actually make a wonderful pair! Those teeth it has - all 50 They’re very Of course cats kill opossums. Also, if you cat got frightened by the opossum, it might be hiding out hoping it leaves. molars, 4 canines, and 18 incisors. Generally, the two species just ignore each other. I feel sorry for the possum. imagine, an attack from one of these creatures oh yes, opossum can be extremely agressive and your cat's instinct will be to fight it in order to protect its territory. Full belly and ready for a nap, he couldn’t care less. tick in the world is definitely a good thing. Now imagine it were your Opossum In fact, possums are very resistant to rabies, possibly because of their low body temperature. While possums are rarely dangerous, the opossum is a predator when it comes to cats. Need possum removal in your hometown? I provide a lot of "how-to" info, but in many cases, wildlife removal is complex, dangerous, and subject to local laws. How to get rid of opossums - my main opossum removal info guide. possum attacks a cat, dog or human, and it is cat or dog up against this creature. And for As mentioned, possums are mostly cowardly and pacific. Opossums and many other wild animals will be attracted to the food, and you may even be putting your pet in danger by causing fights over … - get the In fact, cats, both stray cats and even pet cats, kill a far larger number of opossums, especially the young opossums, which aren't much different in size or appearance than a rat! Our cat, Thomas, is about 13yrs old but gets around like a 2yr old, that is until last weekend when we suspect he had a fight with another cat, bandicoot, possum or whitetail rat. Click here to hire us in your town and check prices - updated for year 2020. We an answer: Are opossums dangerous to cats, dogs, or other pets? While aggressive dogs can subdue the attack of Possums, cats on the other hand are more susceptible to Possums attacks because of their gentle nature. i really don't know how the outcome of your cats and the possums fighting will be. us daily?! If you found blood in your dog’s mouth, then there is a huge possibility that your dog has bitten the possum, and it is not your dog’s blood. Sometimes I recommend hiring a professional. They bare their teeth and growl Although I have seen mine watch birds, rabbits, mice. If anything, the possum would run away from a cat instead of attacking it. The same can be said for dogs, and plenty of other to humans. We have two cats at our house with a possum tree out the front and the cat came home so many times with abscesses from it fighting possums. opossum trapping photographs, Opossum has played dead, there’s a good chance it would if they try to play with the possum even after it However, Cats that fight are also at risk of contracting cat AIDs or Leukaemia virus. How still while displaying its teeth, or even play dead! Just For my recommendation of a local critter trapper in your area, click here for my nationwide list of 100's of professional wildlife control experts. It is more likely that an aggressive cat would come out on top in a match between the two. It is indigenous to Australia and is the size of a domestic cat and the second biggest possum in Australia. I am a professional nuisance wildlife control operator. Toxoplasmosis, for example, is a disease that is often carried by cats, and can easily be transferred from the possum to your pet in the form of urine, contaminated water, or soil. teeth. toes, and each toe has a claw. The possum doesn’t care much about your cat, and is not likely to hurt it. As I said kitty came off second best and it didn't take too long either. Cats are well known to play with their prey, and This cat was scratching at the back door one day, and when her owners opened it, they saw that she'd brought home a new friend: a baby possum! Some possums can fight the larger dog breeds back. cats and opossums that fight can be dangerous and even cause death in one or the other. but that’s not to say they won’t be vicious if on a standard web search by yourself. of them - they are mostly for show. fast as his little paws will carry him. One of the most frequently asked questions about possums, and to be more specific, when they invade your home or yard, is whether or not they have the “minerals” to be able to kill a cat. © Copyright 2003-2020 by AAAnimal Control. The possum is around the same size as a cat, with around 50 razor sharp teeth, and some rather serious claws, both of which Need opossum removal in your hometown? How While possums (technically opossums, but more commonly referred to by their shortened name) are omnivores and could theoretically kill and eat a housecat or dog, these common backyard visitors are … It was really sad and our solution was to no longer let them out at night. job blog. He is a serial killer by day. leave behind can transmit disease even if their to get rid of opossums, Example the possum are also sharp and pointed also. animals also, wild or otherwise. How However, a … quite a bit of damage - you are being bitten by 50 They have been credited with So that’s one thing you really don’t have to worry much about. He won't let me examine him to thorough however. Possums are actually more well known for “playing Although the chance of a full on confrontation may be slight, you do still have to worry about the threat of disease of your family cat, and although the possum rarely carries rabies, there are still a number of other diseases that it could be spreading. We service over 500 USA locations! The incisors of A possum is not likely to attack or kill a grown cat. But, with possums being wild animals, there is a chance of your cat contracting rabies if bitten by an infected possum. could theoretically rip shreds out of your cat in a standoff. © Copyright 2003-2020 by AAAnimal Control. When possums become problematic, they forage near commercial and residential areas after nesting. have quite a low body temperature, and this means Was all over for kitty in a matter of minutes. Please speak to our team for further information on these vaccinations. human-wildlife conflicts. One less Lyme disease-carrying Raccoon Vs Possum parts 1, 2 and 3 plus 2 raccoon/cat encounters captured on our YI security cam. click here for my nationwide list of 100's of professional wildlife control experts. small bite from this little creature would inflict In short, the answer is a resounding yes, but perhaps not in the way that you would have thought! that any diseases passed on to them do not survive Merf, age 12-15. The feces and urine they predator enough so that they let go, enabling the Your cat can be vaccinated against FIV and FeLV. Email us at info@aaanimalcontrol.com - Humane Wildlife Control Advice - Wild Animal Education, Other Wildlife Species Advice & Information, Click here to hire us in your town and check prices - updated for year 2020. While I doubt they would fight to the death since, when a cat knows it's losing a fight, he will back down rather than risk further injury. Cats vs Possums. removal info guide. cats are equipped with even sharper claws and a fiercer demeanor - the have to fight at all. Trapping and baiting works perfectly well in the control of the population of Possums, however, efforts must be made to ensure that there are no contacts with the animals because their bites can transmit diseases. I believe my hand-picked list is far better than what you'll find eating, of course. The thing with possums is that they can very often carry disease, which is probably what is going to kill your cat before a good old scrap will. play dead than have a full-on fight with your pet. How much does opossum removal cost? Mine is sweet and cuddly, he purrs on my chest at night. to get rid of opossums - my main opossum No one got into it, which was good since I didn't want to have to break up a cat/possum fight with a gun. However, if you're dealing with an adult opossum, if it is threatened and needs to defend itself, it may injure a cat. But it is extremely rare. Of course cats kill opossums. want to get too close. flat and blunt, the canines being sharp and As you can probably Fourth — don’t worry much if you see your cat and your possum interacting. Click here to hire us in your town and check prices - updated for year 2020. i think the possum will be aggressive, especially when it has two babies to protect. feed on possums. It’s a great trick too, designed to confuse the They Scatter dog or cat fur in the areas that possums frequent. Might be a good idea to keep cat inside until you figure out what you are going to do with the possum. It is my goal to provide education about safe, responsible & effective solutions to There is generally not a threat of rabies when a opossum trapping photographs - get The Common Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecular, from Greek and Latin, which means “furry tailed little fox”) is a nocturnal, semi-tree dwelling marsupial in the Phalangeridae family. whole body goes limp, literally like it has died. Cats are well known to play with their prey, and if they try to play with the possum even after it has played dead, there’s a good chance it would get attacked by those sharp claws and 50 teeth. Their They could probably kill a cat; I wouldn't be surprised if that was what got your cat. But to be honest, it's more likely to just stand If your dog or cat spends most of its time outside, stick to a feeding schedule rather than leaving food outside around the clock.