Quote Originally Posted by Karen View Post
It is funny, Paul, who grew up with cats, can hiss so that a cat immediately understands it is unwelcome and better run! I, however, hiss and the cat comes closer, assuming I want to pet it. Sigh. Cats know instinctively I love them, and I do knot speak cat well enough to convince them otherwise.

Possums are not nasty, but are marsupials - our only North American Marsupial, and are nocturnal and shy. The "naked" tails make people think they are mean and ugly, but unless cornered, they want nothing to do with humans, and would much rather run away!
Maybe not with humans, but one killed all but one of a litter of kittens at my mom's. That one had wandered off and mom found it in the yard. He became her Sunshine. The mother was either killed or wandered off to die of old age. Mom tried for years to catch the momma and have her spayed. That was one smart cat.

And one mean and hungry possum. Perhaps having humanity encroach on their havitat forces a change in demeanor. Anyway, the cats may not are well against the possum