As cat owners, we often worry about the potential dangers our feline friends may face in the great outdoors, especially from wildlife like possums.
This article sheds light on the interactions between possums and cats and offers some useful tips on how to keep your cats safe.
Understanding Possums: An Overview
Possums, or opossums, are marsupials often found across North America. They are typically non-aggressive, preferring to play dead (‘play possum’) when threatened rather than fight. But do these critters pose a threat to our cats?
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Do Possums Attack Cats?
Contrary to some beliefs, possums are not usually dangerous to cats. As scavengers, possums prefer feeding on plants, small insects, and carrion over pursuing larger creatures like cats.
However, in rare circumstances, if a possum feels cornered or threatened, it may resort to defending itself.
Do Possums Eat Cats?
While possums are omnivorous and could theoretically eat a small mammal, attacks on cats are rare. They are more likely to consume the food left out for cats, creating a potential for conflict, but they typically avoid direct encounters with cats.
Possums and Disease Transmission
One genuine concern with possums involves disease transmission. While possums are immune to many diseases, they can carry fleas, which can be transferred to cats.
They also excrete a large number of parasites, which can contaminate outdoor food and water sources.
Tips to Deter Possums
Here’s how you can keep possums away and ensure the safety of your cats:
Secure Food and Trash
Since possums are attracted to food sources, it’s essential to keep cat food and trash securely sealed. Avoid feeding your cats outdoors if possums frequent your yard.
Install Motion-Activated Sprinklers or Lights
Possums are nocturnal creatures, and bright lights can deter them. Similarly, unexpected sprays of water can frighten possums away.
Use Natural Repellents
Certain smells, such as ammonia, garlic, or mothballs, can deter possums. Placing these around your property’s perimeter can help keep them at bay.
Keep Your Yard Clean
A clean yard with fewer hiding spots is less attractive to possums. Regularly trim shrubs and clean up fallen fruits or berries.
Understanding Possum Behavior
Understanding the behavior of possums can be quite beneficial when trying to coexist peacefully with these creatures, without jeopardizing the safety of your pets.
Nightly Activities
Possums are nocturnal animals, which means they are most active during the night. This is when they search for food, so it’s crucial to bring your cats indoors and secure all potential food sources during these hours to prevent encounters.
Defence Mechanisms
When threatened, possums usually respond by showing their teeth, hissing, or even fainting. They rarely resort to physical confrontation. Thus, an encounter with a cat is more likely to result in such a display rather than a fight.
Possum-Proofing Your Property
Making your property less appealing to possums is a great way to keep them at bay. Here are a few more techniques:
Install Possum-Proof Fencing
Possum-proof fencing can be an effective deterrent. A smooth and high fence can prevent them from climbing, while a floppy top can prevent them from gaining a foothold.
Secure Your Home
Ensure that possums cannot enter your home or outbuildings. Check your property for holes, especially near the roof, and seal any potential entry points.
Coexistence: Is It Possible?
Coexistence between possums, cats, and humans is indeed possible. By understanding possum behavior, keeping your property clean, securing potential food sources, and making use of natural deterrents, you can ensure a peaceful coexistence.
Remember, possums also play a vital role in our ecosystem by controlling pests such as cockroaches, beetles, and rats.
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Conclusion
While the concern about possums attacking or eating cats can be alarming, it’s largely unwarranted. Possums are typically non-aggressive creatures that prefer to avoid confrontations.
However, the presence of possums can introduce other concerns, such as diseases. By following the given tips, you can effectively deter possums from your property, ensuring a safer environment for your feline friends.
