The North American Opossum, Didelphis virginiana, is the only marsupial found north of Mexico, and its presence often sparks concern among pet owners. They are not active predators of adult cats, but they do pose a minimal threat to vulnerable young kittens. Opossums are highly adaptable, opportunistic omnivores whose scavenging nature brings them into close contact with residential areas and, potentially, with small or sickly pets. While an encounter between a healthy adult cat and an opossum usually results in a standoff or retreat, the vulnerability of a newborn kitten changes the dynamic. The primary danger comes not from hunting but from opportunistic feeding or conflict over shared food sources, making understanding their diet and behavior important for minimizing risk.
Understanding the Opossum’s Diet
Opossums rely on a varied diet that allows them to thrive in diverse environments, including urban and suburban settings. As opportunistic omnivores, they consume almost anything available, including both plant and animal matter. Their natural diet consists of fruits, berries, grains, insects, slugs, and snails, as well as small vertebrates like rodents, frogs, birds, and eggs.
Opossums are particularly drawn to carrion, or dead animal matter, which they favor as a source of protein and calcium. This scavenging behavior attracts them to human environments, where discarded food scraps, unsecured garbage, and pet food left outdoors become easy targets.
Their preference for scavenging over active hunting provides the biological context for their relationship with pets. Opossums possess a keen sense of smell, guiding them to food sources, especially at night when they are most active. This nocturnal foraging habit frequently leads them to areas where outdoor cats and kittens might be sleeping or where pet food dishes are located.
Assessing the Threat Level to Kittens
The threat an opossum poses to kittens is generally one of opportunity and conflict, not active predation. Opossums are non-aggressive animals whose primary defense mechanism is “playing possum,” an involuntary physiological response where they feign death. This behavior indicates a strong preference for avoidance over fighting, especially against a larger animal like an adult cat or dog.
However, the vulnerability of a newborn or very young kitten can place it within the range of the opossum’s varied diet, especially if the kitten is sickly, abandoned, or deceased. An opossum may opportunistically attack a defenseless kitten if it perceives it as an easy meal. Conflict can also arise when an opossum is cornered or is defending a food source, which can lead to defensive biting or scratching.
Confrontations are more likely to result in injury than deliberate predation. The potential for disease transmission also exists, as opossums can carry parasites and diseases like leptospirosis. Owners of young or outdoor kittens should be aware that any small, vulnerable creature can be seen as a potential food source by any wild omnivore.
Practical Prevention Measures
The most effective strategy for minimizing encounters between opossums and kittens involves managing attractants in the immediate environment. Since opossums are drawn to areas with easily accessible food, eliminating these sources is the primary goal.
Managing Attractants
- Bring all pet food and water bowls indoors, particularly at night, to eliminate a primary reason for them to enter a yard.
- Secure all outdoor garbage cans with tight-fitting or locking lids to deny access to food scraps.
- Promptly remove fallen fruit from trees, as this is a common food source for the nocturnal marsupial.
- Seal off entry points to potential den sites, such as under decks, sheds, and porches, using sturdy wire mesh.
- Use non-lethal deterrents, such as motion-activated lights or sprinklers, to startle these nocturnal animals.
Implementing these steps significantly reduces the chances of an opossum-kitten interaction.