Any ideas on how to keep my Possum from eating my stray kitten's food?

[Up2Late]

I've been feeding a kitten that showed up in my back yard about a week ago, but last night, the Possum that lives in my back yard found the kitten's food.

I then put out a separate bowl of Cat Chow for the Possum, but it still when for the Kitten Chow.

The kitten is between 3 to 4 months old and I want it to eat as much as it needs, so I re-fill the bowl when it's empty.

Any ideas or hints?

Btw, if you want to see a video of the kitten that I just posted at YouTube, here's the link:

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yfuzlbBDFY>

[peacebuzzard]

1. since you are attempting to feed kitty,

and she is now accommodating herself (or himself) any chance of taking kitty in for the vaccines it needs in order to boost the immune system? Do you have a better shelter like a shed or basement where kitty can live until it can survive better against the elements?

some wildlife etc are also known for being carriers of infectious diseases and the little kitty is quite young and very susceptible to not only contagious bacteria but outside prey.

P.S. I just had a 3 minute self education on opossums; my opinion of this little creature has just now been changed! Thanks!

[Up2Late]

2. I've yet to get within 10 feet of the kitten before it runs away, but I'm working on winning trust.

That will take some time. My mom is working on a young cat in her neighborhood and it took over seven months before it allowed her to pet it. Her cat still live outdoors most of the day, but it is getting more and more fond of being a house cat, I hope to have same success with my little kitten too.

Btw, here's a very good website for Possum. I think this is the same site that I wrote to several years ago when I was working on bringing in one of my two current cats (who I think might be the Grand-father or Great Grand-father of this kitten), the lady who e-mailed me back was very helpful.


<http://www.possumrescue.com/>

[peacebuzzard]

3. the independence of cats

is amazing. I have a rescue cat I brought in my home, who I kept contained in her own room, but because of the brutal heat wave, I have brought her in with me and the rest of my critters; (all dogs). However, she spends the majority of her time outside now, with EZ access to the outside via the doggy door. She seems to have attained her "other" wild nature.

I worry about injury to her as well, with the roads, and I only hope she stays vigilant. So far, she stays within a proximity of the house. Hopefully the cooler weather will come again, and I will contain her back in her suite.

[JitterbugPerfume]

4. I have the same problem~~

the other critters get to the food before the stray kitty does, and what is more,the food attracts more critters!

[TheDoorbellRang]

5. I had the same problem

Except my outdoor cats were grown. I finally ended up putting the cats' food out first thing in the morning, and removing it at night. Otherwise not only possums but raccoons would help themselves to the cats' food. The raccoons came by every once in a while to wash their "hands" in the cats' water bowl. Took me a while to figure out why the water bowl was muddy some mornings.

[Up2Late]

6. That's too cute, my Sister has Raccoons, I don't, But I do have wild Bunnies!

My Possum is really clumsy and knocked over the old water cup I used to put out about every other night, so I put out a dog water bowl for it (we are having a really nasty drought this summer).

It's like really weird nature Karma, I've got all these really cute animals living in my yard, all cute except one:

A kitten

Wild Rabbits

Squirrels

Chipmunks

And a clumsy Possum who's frighteningly ugly the first time you see it and lives off the world's garbage.

Man, I'd like to think that people who hunt for sport become Possums in their next dozen or so lives.

Btw, real wild Possums are not as cute as those pictures I posted above, mine scared me the first few time I saw it.

[BrklynLiberal]

7. Incredilby sweet video and kitty. Is there any way you can trap and neuter her/him.

S/he obviously enjoys the birdbath, and the peace of your backyard, but some vet attention would extend his/her life and health.
No advice about the possum, but perhaps once s/he is more tame, you can feed the kitty inside...
Please keep us posted, and more videos would be welcome.

Did you cross post in the pets group? There might be some good advice there.

[Goblinmonger]

8. This is why I love DU

You just don't see subjects lines like that ANYWHERE else. Nope.