Are possums dangerous to cats, especially when sharing food bowls?

Hello. This is excellent advice, but I doubt you will need to place Ruby on antibiotics. Possum are very rarely implicated in the spread of disease, including rabies, so I would not be concerned at all. She should be just fine. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

So the good news is that Mercy can't get rabies from the opossum. The chance of rabies in an opossum is very rare. They do carry leptospirosis, however. Signs of leptospirosis may include fever, shivering, muscle tenderness, reluctance to move, increased thirst, changes in the frequency or amount of urination, dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes), or painful inflammation within the eyes. The disease can cause kidney failure with or without liver failure. Dogs may occasionally develop severe lung disease and have difficulty breathing. Leptospirosis can cause bleeding disorders, which can lead to blood-tinged vomit, urine, stool or saliva; nosebleeds; and pinpoint red spots (which may be visible on the gums and other mucous membranes or on light-colored skin). Affected dogs can also develop swollen legs (from fluid accumulation) or accumulate excess fluid in their chest or abdomen. If you see any of those signs, take Mercy into a vet immediately.

If the cats are all healthy and don't have any illnesses such as FIP/FIV then it should be fine. However if you have a cat that is ill or FIP/FIV positive, it can be spread through the saliva/bite wounds, so it would be best to make sure they do not share a bowl.

Opossums can carry several diseases, but there isn't much a vet would do right now since Ash isn't having any symptoms of disease. I would recommend continuing on like normal. If she starts acting irregularly, or has a change in appetite or bowel or urinary movements, then it is time to see a vet. If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. http://www.humanesociety.org/.../trouble_affording_pet... https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant.../ http://www.dogheirs.com/resources-affordable-veterinary.../

Hello, that is very cute. The only harm may be is that one of them may become overweight. You should still feed your kitty cat food and your pup, dog food. It would be best if they ate separate to control their weights and portions. This can be achieved by feeding them in different rooms. Sharing their water bowl is fine. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If Athena does not have any wounds, swellings, lameness or painful spots when you touch her, she most likely was not bitten. Possum bite can cause tissue damage and potentially serious infections, so if you see any deep wounds or scratches on your Athena, you should take her to your local vets for an appointment.

They are leaving you presents! They are gifts, and it's showing you affection. They are grateful for the food. I wouldn't stop feeding them, and since Feather is kept indoors, this won't be a problem for her.