How to Play With a Pet Opossum

Though they are loving pets, opossums are not especially playful pets. Instead, they enjoy just being held or exploring their environment. You can still make playtime rewarding for both you and your pet opossum if you are patient and observant.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bonding pouch
• Exercise wheel

For Short-Tailed Opossums:

1. Carry your pet opossum in a bonding pouch, which is a small, soft pouch that your opossum can sit in. Here, your pet will get used to your smell and you will enjoy petting her throughout the day. If you don’t have a bonding pouch, you can wrap your pet in a towel and hold her on your lap.

2. Sit in an enclosed area with your opossum, such as your bathroom, and let your opossum run around. He will become more used to you as he does this and will incorporate you into his explorations. As your pet learns to trust you, try sitting with him in larger areas.

3. Use treats to encourage your short-tailed opossum to interact with you when she is out of her cage. The more positive an experience you provide your opossum, the more likely she will be to choose to interact with you.

4. Provide an exercise wheel for your opossum to run on. The wheel provides good exercise and an active form of play for your pet. Though you can’t join in, you can still enjoy watching him as he runs!

For Virginia Opossums:

5. Give your opossum run of the house when you are at home. If you must, confine your opossum to a room when you are gone. Allowing your opossum to roam through the house will make her happier and more open to play and cuddle sessions with you.

6. Recognize that opossums are quiet animals. Your pet will probably not participate in rambunctious play. If you attempt to initiate this kind of play, your opossum will likely become frightened and may bear his teeth and hiss at you.

7. Focus your play on quiet activities. Start by holding your opossum. Pet and scratch her to see what she enjoys most. Watch her body language and use your intuition to determine the type of interaction she considers playful.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your expectations low for play sessions, and instead focus on bonding with your pet opossum through touch.
• Virginia opossums “play possum” when they are frightened, collapsing and looking somewhat dead. It is an involuntary state of shock, rather than something they choose to do or a form of play. Do not try to induce this state, as it will make your opossum trust you less. It is also cruel; the state of shock indicates that your opossum is terrified.