Cat Stories
Possum Pals
A cozy shelter led to an unexpected friendship.
by Holly KO
CCN Board President and “Crazy Cat Lady”
When I first met “Buddy Love” (before his post-neuter mellowing), he was street-tough and territorial. He and his sidekick “Little Girl” prowled the block and chased off people and other cats who crossed their path.
Desiree had fed them for years. She worried about them especially in winter, when temperatures dipped deep into negative degrees.
I won her trust by building a large insulated outdoor shelter. I hauled it over and set it up outside her apartment, unsure 1) if the cats would use it and 2) if it would be stolen or destroyed.
Happily, no one dared touch Desiree’s stuff. And the cats took to it immediately.
She called me a couple weeks later, laughing. She discovered a possum snuggling with the two tough cats inside the shelter. They hung out together through the winter, munching on cat food and staying cozy.
Years later, the three unlikely friends still pal around, sharing food, water, and housing. I haven’t gotten brave enough to pet the possum yet, but may just get around to it.
NAMES AND SOME DETAILS CHANGED FOR ANONYMITY.