To an adult possum, a cat is neither food nor foe. An opossum is similar in size to a cat, and their habits, while overlapping, are not competitive. Of course, your cat might feel differently after watching Mr. Opossum freeload from an outdoor food dish, but that’s another matter [smattering of laughter HERE].

No, Mr. Opossum is quite content to never see nor bother a cat. The opossum has outlasted the dinosaurs, and it will outlast cats as well. It will probably live to pick our bones, quite frankly [uncomfortable silence at the odd, dark imagery HERE]. Possums roam America’s backyards and trainyards, steering clear of anything larger than a rats and mice, which they will hunt if given the opportunity. This is Nature’s way. I don’t make the rules.

The sad truth is, cats often kill baby opossums, possibly out of a catnip-fueled genocidal rage. It sickens me, as it should sicken you and all of humanity.

Did you know that off all mammals, opossums are among the least likely to carry rabies? It’s true! Their blood temperature is too low to harbor the tiny, crablike extraterrestrials which cause the illness. Scientists are actually studying the lowly opossum to learn whether their resistance can be adopted by men, in the event of a worldwide alien plague.

Thank you for your interest in Chumpy.