Possum Tries To Steal Cat’s Food, And Cat’s Reaction Is Priceless (7 Pics)
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I’m a pretty chilled out kinda guy, I don’t get angry so easily. But come between me and my food and you’re dead meat! So I can really sympathize with the plight of this poor kitty, who went out for dinner only to find an impostor out there, tucking in uninvited!
Rather than the expected paws-of-fury, this pussy reacted with a rather impotent whine to its owner, as if to say ”why are you allowing this to happen to me?” Faced with nothing more than a pretty tame looking possum, this cat seems to have lost its natural instincts when it comes to protecting its food. Still, it makes for an amusing story, as told by Imgur user MrRogers247.
The look on the kitty’s face is just too much, as it implores its owner. “Come on man, just do something!” The plucky possum will not be budged however, and it looks like this time it’s possum 1, cat 0.
Scroll down below to check out how it all unfolded, and let us know what you think in the comments!
“Excuse me, that’s actually MY dinner”
“Umm. A little help please”
“You see there’s been a mistake, you accidentally gave MY dinner to this imposter”
“You serious??? You’re just gonna stand there and take pictures, I’m starving… You know what, that’s fine”
“I can share… oh my favourite. CAT food”
“Ok ok ok sorry, enjoy”
DAAAAAAAD?!
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Your cat is right. That possum can do a lot of damage to a cat in a very short amount of time. Stop with the filming and help your poor kitty.
Yes, that’s what I was thinking. That could’ve gone very, very wrong in just seconds. There is a reason possums will not only stand there ground with cats, but dogs and people too.
I am so glad I’m not the only one who was NOT laughing at the situation. Possum are ‘friendly’ until they are not.
They may not be “friendly” looking but their hissing is mostly just for show. When threatened, they mostly fall down and play dead. (Ever hear of “playing possum”?) They are actually very docile and quite harmless, and they eat ticks and venomous snakes along with slugs and dead things. They are like nature’s little clean up machines.
This is very dangerous for the cat. If I recall correctly Possums are able to carry the rabies virus without being affected themselves, so if the two fight and your pet is bit...
Opossums are highly unlikely to carry the rabies virus. They are not considered a common rabies vector species at all, which means they are extremely unlikely to give your pets rabies. The opossum's low body temperature makes them a poor host for the virus. Opossums are *not* bad tempered in general, but they can and will defend themselves. The ones with a brood-in-pouch need to eat nearly non-stop when they are awake and can get bold enough to saunter right into people's houses, so don't feed pets outdoors if you can avoid it, and lock pet doors at night. Opossums are actually a good neighbor species to have in your yard. They eat venomous snakes and insects, among other species humans tend not to like having around. So be kind to these marsupials, and discourage your pets from harassing them.
Actually YOU are more likely to have rabies than possums. Also, possums are quite peaceful and nice. If this was a raccoon or woodchuck, I'd be extremely worried, but this is okay.
I have 8 cats, and many others in the past 40 years. Cats & opossums/possums get along just fine. This cat has nothing to worry about...except maybe his dinner disappearing before his eyes. LOL Opossums/possums are not rabies carriers. http://opossumsocietyus.org/faq-opossum/ "It is more likely that a dog will injure or kill an opossum. A cat may attack and kill young rat-sized opossums. Adult opossums and cats seem to have a mutual respect and leave each other alone. In general, opossums are docile, non-aggressive animals and will not attack your pets. They prefer to escape and avoid confrontations, if possible. If not, the threatened opossum may “play ‘possum”, show its teeth, or bite in self-defense, as any animal would."
Same here. We have a possum that comes around every night. Our outdoor cat and her neighbor buddy get along with the possum just fine. If they're not cornered, they'll take off if they feel threatened. Our neighborhood possum actually fell over "dead" the first time we met :) I startled it while taking out the trash, and BOOM! I felt so bad.
Why is this idiot even feeding their cat outside to begin with?
Maybe it's a stray/feral they feed? Or maybe they're on acreage and the cat also mouses for them... in other words, you have no freaking idea so don't be so rude.
That was my question as well.
After thinking about it for a bit, my conclusion is; This was set up, and done on purpose for publicity. WTF.
I used to help feed a feral cat colony outside my apartment (near San Francisco), and therefore had no choice but to leave the food outside - since they were FERAL, not stray, and in a controlled TNRed colony by the ocean. Possums were common there, and they would often snack on the cats' food, especially during "baby season." They were peaceful, though, and never fought with or harmed the cats AFAIK. I just didn't like having to spend more money to replace what they'd eaten!!
Our two cats get along perfectly well with the possum that we feed. They completely ignore each other.
To you folks saying this is okay. Nobody is saying be cruel to the possum. Yes, maybe it won't hurt the cat, but why in God's name, take the chance? To take pictures to upload to the web? REALLY? That's just pathetic.
Not least by sharing fleas and ticks!
Possums eat ticks, keeping them from getting on your animals, so that really isn’t a consideration.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Unless the cats been de-clawed, it's fine.
If the cat had been declawed (Which is a bad thing to do to a cat) it won't be able to defend itself against the possum
You're an idiot for filming that just for fkn internet attention. Possums are seriously vicious and territorial. That beautiful cat could have been dead within 30 seconds if that possum felt threatened. But hey, you don't care, whatever's funny right, asshole?
Opossums are not particularly territorial, but the females are extremely hungry when they are carrying babies and will come out in the day, walk right up to dogs or cats to take their food if they think they can get away with it. They aren't vicious. They are voracious. :) Females with a pouch full of young will saunter right past you into your house in broad daylight to steal cat food if they think you'll let them get by. Being a marsupial with young is hungry work. They will eat whatever they think they can get away with, but they are more likely to play dead (aka "play possum") than try to kill another animal. That doesn't mean your pet can't get a nasty scratch or bite in the process, though, and there's no reason to let either animal get hurt by allowing them to interact. Feed pets indoors. Lock pet doors after dark. If you have opossums in your yard, consider yourself lucky. They do a lot of pest control and their babies are just precious if you're lucky enough to see them.
I appreciate you trying to give people real info on this misunderstood animal. Most people don't even realize that opossums can be raised as cuddly pets. They really are unjustly villainized.
Actually opossums do not "play dead" they actually faint from fear which ultimately often does save their lives. They do have sharp teeth and will hiss if they feel cornered as a warning but mostly run as that is their first defense. Sweet creatures.
100% correct scrappyrat.
I agree with you 100%
Scrappyrat - 100% correct.
Omg. The cats fine. It's more confused than anything. The possum won't hurt it.
Possums are not vicious at all. They are incredibly shy animals and not territorial in an aggressive manner or way. Wherever you've gotten this information about possums is sadly incorrect. None the less a cornered animal will defend itself no matter what species.
The possum I startled one night while taking out the trash wobbled, then fell over "dead". Laid there for about a half hour. I felt terrible. They really aren't vicious. Any animal can go after someone, but a possum is the least likely.
LOL Dude, its an opossum, not a grizzly bear. You clearly don't know much about opossums.
forgive them for they know not what they do, as we all are
Not sure why you think Possums are territorial, because they AREN'T. Possums are nomadic, and they don't stay around for long in one area. Being 'territorial' to them may be simply marking their current area against other possums. They are rarely violent, preferring to scuttle away if they feel seriously threatened, and if unable to they resort to playing dead. Adult cats have been known to kill possums. Can your cat be injured by a possum? Yes. Definitely. Could a possum kill an adult cat? Very rarely if ever. The cat is only at risk of being 'killed' by a possum if they get a nasty infection from a wound. A possum is more likely to just stand still while displaying its teeth at the cat. Perhaps you should do a bit of research before calling people names and making ridiculous statements about things you know nothing of.
Our two cats get along perfectly well with the possum that we feed. They completely ignore each other.
Don't worry; this story is made up. The real story is actually even more awesome. This "friendly neighborhood" possum is actually TAME. The person literally gives it access to their garage for a place to stay, and when people come over it just hangs out and lets them pet it. The cat is let out only under supervision and actually plays nicely with the possum. Not that the stills of the cat aren't still really hilarious, or it isn't a risk to fully trust and spend time with a wild animal.
At least it's not a pussy grabber. Give a little credit, jeeze.
Poor kitty. Dont ley him est out of that bowl who knows what germs the possum might have.
You... You know what cats eat, right? Rats, mice, bats, birds.... Last I checked those carry disease.
Not if you are actually taking care of them they don't.
Only if the owner is an idiot who let them outside.
I am around them out in the country and they get along with everybody. ALL mothers will protect their young,that doesn’t mean they are me@n killers. They show their teeth and hiss is their only protection
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Yeah. This idiot takes photos while his cat is terrified of an animal that could not only kill him in under a minute, it's a walking rabies vector. How much do you want to bet that the jackass doesn't even have that cat vaccinated?
Actually, the chance of a possum having rabies is extremely rare. And the possum killing the cat in under a minute is highly unlikely. By nature, possums are docile, non-aggressive animals and will not attack your pets. They prefer to avoid confrontations, which is why they "play possum." In case you want to question or argue these facts, you can educate yourself by going to the following website. https://www.abchomeandcommercial.com/blog/do-possums-carry-rabies/
QUICK ANSWER According to the Bi-State Wildlife Hotline, opossums do not typically carry rabies. It is quite rare for opossums to contract rabies because their body temperatures are too low for the infection to thrive. Possums drool when they are afraid, which is often mistaken for rabies symptoms.
LOL seriously? Oh jeeze, quit your whining. If the cat seriously thought it's life was in danger, it wouldn't have stayed on the porch. Humans are more of a threat to cats than possums. They don't even have to be rabid to kill them.
Your cat is right. That possum can do a lot of damage to a cat in a very short amount of time. Stop with the filming and help your poor kitty.
Yes, that’s what I was thinking. That could’ve gone very, very wrong in just seconds. There is a reason possums will not only stand there ground with cats, but dogs and people too.
I am so glad I’m not the only one who was NOT laughing at the situation. Possum are ‘friendly’ until they are not.
They may not be “friendly” looking but their hissing is mostly just for show. When threatened, they mostly fall down and play dead. (Ever hear of “playing possum”?) They are actually very docile and quite harmless, and they eat ticks and venomous snakes along with slugs and dead things. They are like nature’s little clean up machines.
This is very dangerous for the cat. If I recall correctly Possums are able to carry the rabies virus without being affected themselves, so if the two fight and your pet is bit...
Opossums are highly unlikely to carry the rabies virus. They are not considered a common rabies vector species at all, which means they are extremely unlikely to give your pets rabies. The opossum's low body temperature makes them a poor host for the virus. Opossums are *not* bad tempered in general, but they can and will defend themselves. The ones with a brood-in-pouch need to eat nearly non-stop when they are awake and can get bold enough to saunter right into people's houses, so don't feed pets outdoors if you can avoid it, and lock pet doors at night. Opossums are actually a good neighbor species to have in your yard. They eat venomous snakes and insects, among other species humans tend not to like having around. So be kind to these marsupials, and discourage your pets from harassing them.
Actually YOU are more likely to have rabies than possums. Also, possums are quite peaceful and nice. If this was a raccoon or woodchuck, I'd be extremely worried, but this is okay.
I have 8 cats, and many others in the past 40 years. Cats & opossums/possums get along just fine. This cat has nothing to worry about...except maybe his dinner disappearing before his eyes. LOL Opossums/possums are not rabies carriers. http://opossumsocietyus.org/faq-opossum/ "It is more likely that a dog will injure or kill an opossum. A cat may attack and kill young rat-sized opossums. Adult opossums and cats seem to have a mutual respect and leave each other alone. In general, opossums are docile, non-aggressive animals and will not attack your pets. They prefer to escape and avoid confrontations, if possible. If not, the threatened opossum may “play ‘possum”, show its teeth, or bite in self-defense, as any animal would."
Same here. We have a possum that comes around every night. Our outdoor cat and her neighbor buddy get along with the possum just fine. If they're not cornered, they'll take off if they feel threatened. Our neighborhood possum actually fell over "dead" the first time we met :) I startled it while taking out the trash, and BOOM! I felt so bad.
Why is this idiot even feeding their cat outside to begin with?
Maybe it's a stray/feral they feed? Or maybe they're on acreage and the cat also mouses for them... in other words, you have no freaking idea so don't be so rude.
That was my question as well.
After thinking about it for a bit, my conclusion is; This was set up, and done on purpose for publicity. WTF.
I used to help feed a feral cat colony outside my apartment (near San Francisco), and therefore had no choice but to leave the food outside - since they were FERAL, not stray, and in a controlled TNRed colony by the ocean. Possums were common there, and they would often snack on the cats' food, especially during "baby season." They were peaceful, though, and never fought with or harmed the cats AFAIK. I just didn't like having to spend more money to replace what they'd eaten!!
Our two cats get along perfectly well with the possum that we feed. They completely ignore each other.
To you folks saying this is okay. Nobody is saying be cruel to the possum. Yes, maybe it won't hurt the cat, but why in God's name, take the chance? To take pictures to upload to the web? REALLY? That's just pathetic.
Not least by sharing fleas and ticks!
Possums eat ticks, keeping them from getting on your animals, so that really isn’t a consideration.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Unless the cats been de-clawed, it's fine.
If the cat had been declawed (Which is a bad thing to do to a cat) it won't be able to defend itself against the possum
You're an idiot for filming that just for fkn internet attention. Possums are seriously vicious and territorial. That beautiful cat could have been dead within 30 seconds if that possum felt threatened. But hey, you don't care, whatever's funny right, asshole?
Opossums are not particularly territorial, but the females are extremely hungry when they are carrying babies and will come out in the day, walk right up to dogs or cats to take their food if they think they can get away with it. They aren't vicious. They are voracious. :) Females with a pouch full of young will saunter right past you into your house in broad daylight to steal cat food if they think you'll let them get by. Being a marsupial with young is hungry work. They will eat whatever they think they can get away with, but they are more likely to play dead (aka "play possum") than try to kill another animal. That doesn't mean your pet can't get a nasty scratch or bite in the process, though, and there's no reason to let either animal get hurt by allowing them to interact. Feed pets indoors. Lock pet doors after dark. If you have opossums in your yard, consider yourself lucky. They do a lot of pest control and their babies are just precious if you're lucky enough to see them.
I appreciate you trying to give people real info on this misunderstood animal. Most people don't even realize that opossums can be raised as cuddly pets. They really are unjustly villainized.
Actually opossums do not "play dead" they actually faint from fear which ultimately often does save their lives. They do have sharp teeth and will hiss if they feel cornered as a warning but mostly run as that is their first defense. Sweet creatures.
100% correct scrappyrat.
I agree with you 100%
Scrappyrat - 100% correct.
Omg. The cats fine. It's more confused than anything. The possum won't hurt it.
Possums are not vicious at all. They are incredibly shy animals and not territorial in an aggressive manner or way. Wherever you've gotten this information about possums is sadly incorrect. None the less a cornered animal will defend itself no matter what species.
The possum I startled one night while taking out the trash wobbled, then fell over "dead". Laid there for about a half hour. I felt terrible. They really aren't vicious. Any animal can go after someone, but a possum is the least likely.
LOL Dude, its an opossum, not a grizzly bear. You clearly don't know much about opossums.
forgive them for they know not what they do, as we all are
Not sure why you think Possums are territorial, because they AREN'T. Possums are nomadic, and they don't stay around for long in one area. Being 'territorial' to them may be simply marking their current area against other possums. They are rarely violent, preferring to scuttle away if they feel seriously threatened, and if unable to they resort to playing dead. Adult cats have been known to kill possums. Can your cat be injured by a possum? Yes. Definitely. Could a possum kill an adult cat? Very rarely if ever. The cat is only at risk of being 'killed' by a possum if they get a nasty infection from a wound. A possum is more likely to just stand still while displaying its teeth at the cat. Perhaps you should do a bit of research before calling people names and making ridiculous statements about things you know nothing of.
Our two cats get along perfectly well with the possum that we feed. They completely ignore each other.
Don't worry; this story is made up. The real story is actually even more awesome. This "friendly neighborhood" possum is actually TAME. The person literally gives it access to their garage for a place to stay, and when people come over it just hangs out and lets them pet it. The cat is let out only under supervision and actually plays nicely with the possum. Not that the stills of the cat aren't still really hilarious, or it isn't a risk to fully trust and spend time with a wild animal.
At least it's not a pussy grabber. Give a little credit, jeeze.
Poor kitty. Dont ley him est out of that bowl who knows what germs the possum might have.
You... You know what cats eat, right? Rats, mice, bats, birds.... Last I checked those carry disease.
Not if you are actually taking care of them they don't.
Only if the owner is an idiot who let them outside.
I am around them out in the country and they get along with everybody. ALL mothers will protect their young,that doesn’t mean they are me@n killers. They show their teeth and hiss is their only protection
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Yeah. This idiot takes photos while his cat is terrified of an animal that could not only kill him in under a minute, it's a walking rabies vector. How much do you want to bet that the jackass doesn't even have that cat vaccinated?
Actually, the chance of a possum having rabies is extremely rare. And the possum killing the cat in under a minute is highly unlikely. By nature, possums are docile, non-aggressive animals and will not attack your pets. They prefer to avoid confrontations, which is why they "play possum." In case you want to question or argue these facts, you can educate yourself by going to the following website. https://www.abchomeandcommercial.com/blog/do-possums-carry-rabies/
QUICK ANSWER According to the Bi-State Wildlife Hotline, opossums do not typically carry rabies. It is quite rare for opossums to contract rabies because their body temperatures are too low for the infection to thrive. Possums drool when they are afraid, which is often mistaken for rabies symptoms.
LOL seriously? Oh jeeze, quit your whining. If the cat seriously thought it's life was in danger, it wouldn't have stayed on the porch. Humans are more of a threat to cats than possums. They don't even have to be rabid to kill them.