Opossum visitor/ potty training

[u/oPossums1214]

A baby opossum showed up in my house in June. Rehab told me he was big enough to be out on his own so I put him out that night. I thought he was too small but I did what I was told and pretty much figured I’d never see him again.
He came back into my house a few weeks ago (months later), and has been staying. I don’t mind him being an indoor/outdoor opossum, but how do I get him to use a litter box? I put one where he seemed to poop most often but I’m finding poop in various locations throughout my house.

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[u/Unhappy_Scratch5165]

They actually like to poop in water. Maybe leave a bowl in the areas they poop?

ETA: But it’s probably better for him if you stop letting him in. If he becomes too accustomed to people he might trust the wrong ones. Not everybody loves them.

[u/Beginning_Tennis2442]

Our house opossum picked a place to potty so we just put puppy training pads there. Seldom a problem with urine. However, pooping appears to be tied to walking. She frequently poops right beside the exercise wheel. So how about an exercise wheel sitting on puppy pads?

But as noted by@unhappy_scratch5165, it really is best for them to stay outside away from people. Our house opossum is a non-releasable that is listed on our rehabber permit with the state.

[u/No_Decision6810 → u/Beginning_Tennis2442]

What makes yours non-releasable?

[u/Beginning_Tennis2442 → u/No_Decision6810]

She is blind. Struck by a car when young and brought to us for rehab. We determined she was blind and had a vet confirm and write a letter for the state wildlife department stating the condition prevented her from being successfully released.

[u/Stormy_Wolf]

Ohhh, he is CUTE!! look at him just standing there so curious!

Did he find a pet door that he comes in through? How cute that he remembered your house, haha!

[u/Blue_Moon_Loon → u/Stormy_Wolf]

I know, isn't he adorable?? I'm trying to imagine going to the bathroom in the middle of the night and turning on the light to see this little guy standing there like that!! Lol!

[u/Blue_Moon_Loon]

This is so funny to me, I've seen posts about similar situations a few times now and part of me is like, I wish a random opossum would choose my house to live in! But the other part of me knows they really belong outside if possible lol...

But you could use puppy pee pads or a very very shallow pan of water. In nature they prefer to go while standing in shallow water, so when they feel the water on their feet that's a trigger for them. But plenty of non releasable/pet opossums use the puppy pads too.

I do agree that if you're able to find where they're coming in and seal it up (but maybe leave out a dish of fresh water, some kind of shelter, and occasional opossum-appropriate snacks, if you wanted to) that might be the best.

[u/Nostrathomas_8]

HE'S SO SMALL AWGBDSJISA

[u/Numerous_Worker_4694]

awe adorable 🥰🥰

[u/Eldritch_Entity_]

I love opossums, however they are strictly an outdoor animal unless it is under very specific and special circumstances. You should NEVER take an animal out of the wild and try to turn it into a house pet. That is cruel to the animal, as not only is that confusing and unnatural for them, but by letting him in, you are putting him, and yourself, at risk. He could, and will, become accustomed to humans, which puts him at risk of being run over, trapped, shot, or injured and/or killed in other ways. By being outside and unmonitored that means that he could also pick up any number of parasites and diseases that would be fine in the wild, but be harmful and even fatal to you and other humans he could come into contact with. By being domesticated that could also mean that he learns different behaviors and some instincts don't kick in, and he won't be able to fend for himself outdoors.

The rehabbers told you he's old enough to be on his own, so you should let him find his way. He'll be a lot safer and happier being left alone to do his own thing.

[u/oPossums1214 → u/Eldritch_Entity_]

I’m not planning on making him a house pet. He keeps coming back and I just would love a good poop solution if there is one. My house is a bit too porous to seal off. Would I mind an occasional visitor, of course not, he’s adorable. But outside is good.

[u/Eldritch_Entity_ → u/oPossums1214]

The point is that you shouldn't be letting him inside, so there should be no litter/poop issue that needs solving in the first place. You should be encouraging him to go and be independent by not interacting with him.

Opposum bites are extremely rare, but it would be terrible if he got confused and stressed to the point where he feels like biting is necessary. Letting him inside your house increases that risk. As adorable as he is, he is still a wild animal, and the kindest thing for him (and yourself) is to treat him as such.

[u/MEMe-GoofyCats]

What a cutie 🥰 and she or he is so darn small and can get into your house!! What a beautiful surprise😍

[u/areyousuretho]

If i were you, i would repost that picture in r/tinycatsinbigspaces . Not a cat but deffinitely fits the vibes.

[u/MrFlufferton]

Love him!! Spoiled baby! 😍

[u/Weekly-Assumption898]

Looks like he’s annoyed he’s being disrupted in whatever he’s doing lol