The Great Possum Debate is officially Over

Ruhmember way back when we ALMOST had a Rule 16: "Possums can never, ever ever be cute" and alert reader Meg C. hit us with some anerable possum pics? We had to back off the possum hatin’.

Well this:

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Oh, and EXTRA CREDIT: Possum ON BACK OF BEHBEH KITT-TAYNS!

And where is that kitten going? He’s all: "Possum delivereee!"

Ec

I didn’t know Sears did possum portraits, but luckily for us, they do, Vicki M.

93 comments … read them below or add one

  1. Catman Dude =^-.-^= says:

    Bleen?

  2. Catman Dude =^-.-^= says:

    Well, I guess I’ll have to cancel the possum pie I wanted!

  3. harlemgrrl says:

    i’m scared to death of possums and even i think this one is cute

  4. Catman Dude =^-.-^= says:

    She’s got mascara on!

  5. Michele Ritan says:

    Not.A.Possum. PhotoShop?Rule 16 still holds.

  6. Redzilla says:

    Well, I don’t know if I like the Amy Winehouse eye-makeup, but that little pink bow action is unspeakable.

  7. Portiemom says:

    Actually, if you’ve ever seen a mama posum walking around carrying her entire litter of babes on her back, it really is pretty cute.

  8. Joe says:

    Hate to be a nuff, but check back with that possum in a couple of months. I can guarantee it won’t be cute.

    Baby possums, though? Definitely cute, and very sweet-tempered. There’s no need to use Photoshop to get these possum pup pics, Michele Ritan.

  9. Julie says:

    Her face is ultra-prosh, but something about her ears still give me the rule #16 heebie jeebies.

  10. Annie says:

    Awwww and Double awwww. and we have a full grown adult possum that lives in our yard.. he actually took up residence in the garage until we vanquished him… the boys are smelly… but he is cute and he eats all my snails that the chickens miss. He rocks the BEF and generally is quiet and shy.

  11. fifi says:

    someone posted this possum as the Dwight Schrute to the the squirl boss..

    http://picasaweb.google.com/mberry212/MrMcPossumPowerBrokersons

    and I was already thinkin, now that’s a cute possum!
    and I havfe been a possum nuff in the past.

  12. RJ says:

    Definitely cute, with the huge rose-centered pink bow and that “I’m not sure what’s happening” blankness in the eyes. XD

    I’ve known a couple of people to take in a possum or three and raise them to adulthood. If raised from infancy, they can grow into pretty docile, easygoing pets, they say.

    A friend of mine down the street says they have a male living in their back yard, and he occasionally toddles up to the front porch for cat food. He’s unafraid of humans and just sorta wants to go about his business and be left alone. It’s hard to get angry with an animal like that.

  13. berthaslave says:

    The road is long
    With many a winding turn
    That leads us to who knows where, who knows when,
    But I’m prosh,
    Prosh enough to carry heem,

    He ain’t heavy.
    He’s my possum.
    So on we goooo….

    (Actually, he does look a little heavy for the kitteh, but cute nonetheless).

  14. chanpon says:

    Oh baby possum and kitteh are matchingks!

  15. fifi says:

    it does seem noteworthy that in each of the photos the possum requires an accessory (bow, cat) to be cute.
    aw poor possum! I think they are cute in part because they are disturbing…can’t explain…

  16. kathi d says:

    Did you say KITTEN???? Wo! I’m all, I thot that wuz a KITTEH!

  17. lurkingsmirk says:

    I think possums are cute! I always get excited when I espy one in my yard. They are very shy. I would love to see one hanging upside down on a tree branch.

    The little bow is so cute, very Beatrix Potter!

  18. Gail says:

    Hee-hee, I thought she looked like she had gotten into mommy’s eyeliner, too!!

    Double QTE!!

  19. Tutts says:

    HOLY NIZZLE.

    THAT IS SO CUTEEE

  20. CheshireCat says:

    Awww what a anerable leetle possom. She was obviously born to be beautiful, what with the built in eye-liner and dainty pink fingers.

  21. Celia says:

    Possum with bow on head! My own head is about to splode.

  22. Lizzy says:

    Awwwww, that is too freakishly cute! You keel me! You, bebeh McPossumsons, keel me!

    I still attest, however, that all-growed-up opossums are not cute. Henrietta bares her teeth at me every time I come near her. And they are STRONG. George could probably crush my wrist if he wanted to.

  23. Jennifer says:

    This is amazing. I never thought a possum could be cute. Though I did like those possums in Ice Age 2 a lot…

  24. Tracy says:

    They’re matchingks!

  25. koko says:

    Oh MY GOD, that is deadly cute.

  26. Angela P. says:

    The first photo is super cute. I’m still a little creeped out by the second photo. Possums are just so… icky!

  27. scigirl says:

    We had possums in the yard all the time when I was growing up. My mom fed them old cookies and bread and they came to the back door every evening for their supper. Very proper and respectful they were…not like the evil poodles with which I live now…

  28. jules says:

    Is that possum wearing a little BOW on her head??! It’s…it’s too cute!

    *faints*

  29. Wendy says:

    WAAAAAAY!

    TOO!

    CUTE!

  30. Shesings says:

    I once had a possum visitor for whom I would leave food out nightly. I’d lie down about 4 feet away from him and sing to him, as he ate his chow.
    In my limited human thinking, I kept (mentally or telepathically) asking his name. Finally, he must have been sick of the question because I swear he told me that, while possums do not have “names” as humans do, the closest nomenclature he had was, as a youngster, his clan, labeled him “Berry”. He said this came as a result of his getting into a patch of berries, and thusly staining himself thoroughly. I know-you think I’m nuts-it’s ok-Berry knew differently! :>)

  31. JinxtheCat says:

    The kitteh and the possum look like brothers although they are both wondering why their snouts are soooo different.

  32. LisaL says:

    I think possums are cute even when they get bigger. Yeah they have that HUGE mouth w/ a bunch of evil teeth, but they’re still cute.

  33. spongebrooke says:

    I still don’t understand how people could think opossums are not cute! I volunteer at a wildlife rescue and we always have opossums in. They are actually sweet little critters that have never given me any trouble. Those bratty raccoons everyone seems to love on the other hand…. geesh!

  34. blair says:

    it’s official

    “that’s like puttin’ a bow on a possum”

    is the new

    “that’s like puttin’ lipstick on a pig”

  35. That second picture is just to cute…

  36. That second picture is just to cute… I can’t take it anymore…

  37. Kacy says:

    Wild Animals and domestic pets should NEVER mix. The possum needs to learn to be afraid of cats for his own survival in the wild.

  38. Shannon says:

    OMG that first one’s cuteness just took my breath away!!!!

    And Kacy – be assured – when she gets older she will be able to hiss that kitten under the table. Right now she’s young to cuddle safely with no repercussions on her safety. I know!

  39. trin says:

    Oh the pink bow! She looks like a character in a children’s book.
    “Polly Possum wanted to be a ballerina when she grew up…”

  40. acelightning says:

    The kitten has a severe case of “bed head” there…

  41. Carrie says:

    awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww man that is so sweet – I adore opossums!

  42. Shesings says:

    I once had a possum visitor for whom I would leave food out nightly. I’d lie down about 4 feet away from him and sing to him, as he ate his chow.
    In my limited human thinking, I kept (mentally or telepathically) asking his name. Finally, he must have been sick of the question because I swear he told me that, while possums do not have “names” as humans do, the closest nomenclature he had was, as a youngster, his clan, labeled him “Berry”. He said this came as a result of his getting into a patch of berries, and thusly staining himself thoroughly. I know-you think I’m nuts-it’s ok-Berry knew differently! :>)

  43. you know, Pogo the cartoon character was a possum as well.
    He was dahling….
    http://www.pogopossum.com/

  44. Lindz3r says:

    As I have personally kept a raccoon and an opossum as pets I can make many conclusions.
    A. Opossums of the female gender should be named Marcy the Marsupial.
    B. Opossums are cute even in older age, it’s kind of like, they’re so ugly they’re cute, ya know? Long noses, piercing eyes, cute pawsitudes, and pouches to stuff somefings..
    C. Opossums can be mildly tempered when raised for a young age, and can be docile when used to humans, and especially in the presence of cat food..
    D. The comment about raccoons being bratty, ouch. They are like the North American monkey, yes sometimes they can be annoying, but their general purring noises, grasping hands, cuddling nature surpasses all that. My raccoon by far was the best pet I’ve ever owned.

    Oh and yes, I am a back country hick….

  45. jen says:

    OMG
    OMG
    OMG
    OMG
    OMG
    barfin up rainbows over heah. can’t get cuter. i love possums. baby possum with bow with kitten? and matchingks pink, grey and white? aaah!! CO you are KEELING MEEEEE!!!!!

  46. Jorden says:

    I never like clothes or accessories on animals and even I am screeching over how CUTE that little possum is with the bow! Yee!
    I raised many litters of possums when I was a zookeeper in New Orleans, I’ve always liked them.

  47. lurkertype says:

    I will grudgingly agree that bebeh possums can sometimes be cute, if accessorized properly.

    I reserve the right to HATE grown-up wild possums, though. And I do. They are stupid, ugly, evil, hateful beasts and they should stop coming into my yard and upsetting my indoor kitties and hassling the outdoor kitties of my neighborhood.

    Did I mention they are STUPID?

    (I never thought Pogo was a proper possum — he didn’t have the wicked pointy snout!)

  48. IndigoReiki says:

    Once more …Possums are NOT cute. Period full stop.
    The possum on that baby kitten’s back looks rat-like, menacing and EeeVille. The only exception I can offer is that a very bebeh possum might be cute ONLY IF they is something else cute in the picture with them.

  49. possumpiratess says:

    YAYYYYYYYY! I’m not even gonna read the nuffin comments. Photoshopped? Listen, I’m an artist and I use it daily. That bow is really sittin on that baby’s head, OK? believe it.
    Yay!!!!

  50. pny says:

    ick. prickly fingers. slithery tail. gives me goosebumps. not cute.

  51. I’ll be honest, i don’t think that possums are cute at all although this is certainly the cutest one i’ve seen. You can dress it up all you like but to me it still looks like a rat. Am i alone here?

    http://www.animaloverdose.com/

  52. Zee says:

    I adore the bebeh kitteh/possomite combo. The “bedhead” comment made me snort/chuckle. kitteh is like: “we buds”. Yeah, I think possum bebeh is a leetle too hev-ay fo’ da kitteh.

  53. pyrit says:

    Pic 1.
    Bah ha ha ha ha ha! Ah ha ha ha ha ha! Snort! Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha!
    (sidessplitting) Bah ha ha ha ha ha ha! (slaps self)………………..
    (looks at pic again)
    Eee hee hee hee hee hee!

  54. Sami says:

    omg i LOVE possums!! I love them so much taht once my BF’s dog got one (with a squaker) and i squeaked it! and the dog ran from it so his dad was like ” do you want it? I was all “YES I DO!!!” but now my uber cute doggy Farol has it.

  55. Mary says:

    Pics of cute opossum babies that I rehabbed.

  56. Mary says:

    click my name above or go to this link

    http://animal10.networkshosting.com/opossum.htm

  57. Laura says:

    No matter what everyone else thinks, I think possums are CUTE! Esp. bebe possums!

  58. Laura says:

    Also, I would totally snorgle this bebe! Forgot to add that :)

  59. liz says:

    kitteh is all -!
    “GET THIS FRICKIN RODENT OFFA ME BA-FORE I KILL EET!”
    is not right. kitteh does not like the icky thing.
    carries bad disease. wha’s a matter with you people?????

  60. Sharon Wilson says:

    I love the little bow! Now “Possum Pearl” needs a little skirt! Plus it’s funny how she rides the kitteh just like it was her mommy!

  61. Redfox in Tx says:

    A. Virginia Opossums (_Didelphis virginianus_) are not rodents, they are Marsupials.
    B. Just what bad disease are you talking about?
    C. Teh possums can be very cute! Yeah, they can look not so cute as well but the ones pictured here are definitely cutie patootie!

  62. liz says:

    Nufff.. Nuffff.
    floof floof floof.

    my work here is done.

    i make a big smile. :)
    snort

  63. liz says:

    ya. well “you can stick a steer up your ass and call it a t-bone, but its still a…. ” [ insert tommy boy quote here please]
    itz still a opossium, and its not gunna be alive in my backyard for long.

  64. Subhangi says:

    LOVE that pink bow, and the second pic is too pwecioush.

  65. Annie J says:

    I never really thought possums were cute. But I’d never seen one up close, anyway.

    I’ve been convinced! This one’s a real cutie! <3 I love the bow :P

  66. Portiemom says:

    One day I came home from work and my front yard was full of my neighbors all looking up at the top of my very tall magnolia tree. “Don’t worry, we’ve already alled the police” one said. “Why?” I asked. They said it was because there was a wild animal up in the tree. I looked up and it was a possum happily taking its daily nap. I made them call the police back and tell them not to come. Sheesh.

  67. Shannon says:

    Shesings – I LOVE your story. How amazing!! I think that is very special.

    And geez, liz. That’s a bit over the top isn’t it? They are going to hurt you or anything else in your yard. They WERE there first ya know!

  68. Shannon says:

    “They are NOT going to hurt you or anything else in your yard.”

    Sorry. It is 3AM here!

  69. Sammys Mom >^..^ says:

    Mary ~ thanks soooo much for sharing your pictures…they were Possum *Awesome pronounced w/ a P*!!!

    The original behbeh possum with the bow is absolutely adorable! =^.,.^=

  70. bookmonstercats says:

    We don’t have pozzums living wild here, so I can safely say (from a distance) that pozzums are Godz creatures and always cute, Mizz Meg, even without accezzories.

  71. Brandi says:

    That’s about as cute as an opossum will ever get– and it’s frankly not as cute as Australia’s common brushtail possum.

  72. Nancy says:

    This so cute!

  73. Yitzysmommie says:

    Absolutely adorables! I particularly like the peeenck rosie bow on Miss Beady Eyed McPossumpants.
    In the second pic, I hear bebeh possum: “Not the Momma! Not the Momma!”. And teensy kittayn: “MMOOOOOOOOM” It’s touchin’ MEEEEE!!!”

  74. rabble says:

    i have always been on the side of the fence where we see teh possums as cute, but the first pic take my possum love to a whole. nutha. level.

    also Mary – the momma is so cute smiling! she looks so proud :)

  75. fifi says:

    Sammy’s Mom–I luv the possom/awesome link.
    should we sp. it

    “pawesome”

    or “pawessom” ?

  76. DLR says:

    Now that’s one derned cute possum! I don’t understand why people think they’re evil or fugly, they’re the most snarky and smirking lovable creatures, well, next to racoons! Pair a possum with a kitty, and ya got a whole lot of “squeeeeeee” going on here!

  77. Fegli says:

    The only thing cute about possums is their little hands. They just look like they’re wearing little grey sweaters. Awwww.

    That kitten looks very distressed. :/

  78. duesh says:

    super cute possum power will over rule, rlue 16!!:)

  79. anner says:

    the natural eyeliner really highlights her winning expression!

    i for one do not need to be sold on possums; i already think just about all non-primate mammals are adorable, and for some reason i have a major soft spot for “vermin.” so this little lady just reinforces my belief that rule #16 is bogus bogus bogus!

  80. CoffeeCup says:

    I didn’t have a big opinion on the Possums: Adorable or Evil? debate until a few years ago when I was driving home from a hockey game and my friends and I see a pair of little yellow things in the distance. I thought it was light that was bouncing off the road sign or something, but before I knew it, there was a possum…in the road…hissing, fangs wide open. I tried to avoid it, but the thing wouldn’t budge and the road was only two-lane. But since then, that image of those beady eyes and teeth stayed with me. Conclusion: Possums are not cute and are in fact evil and tearer of tires.

  81. pyrit says:

    Leetle Possettelina, you still here? Listen, ya wee mite, you cost me a lung yesterday.
    Quit it will ya?

  82. Caroline says:

    Its Angelina Ballerina!

  83. Mary,

    Since the bebbeh possums were with their mom, why did they have to be rehabbed? Was mom injured?

  84. zeldapie says:

    Hooray! I get to feed lil’ bebeh possums this spring and summer at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, along with the bebeh skwerls. (I don’t think we’ll have bunnies in the mammal nursery this year – they’ll be in a different nursery.) I can’t wait!!

  85. Mary says:

    Nora,
    She was hit by a car and unconscious for three days. I had to feed her with a tube down into her stomach. She still kept nursing her babies but I’d reach in her pouch and clean them. I even gave her an extra orphan that came in. She finally came to and they were all released.

  86. Mary says:

    I have some cute baby opossum and skunk videos here
    http://www.youtube.com/marycummins

  87. Mrs.Fonebone says:

    Whoever selected that bow is a genius. Seriously. Any other bow–red, shiny blue, gold–would just be so wrong. It is the perfect bow. If possum mothers put bows on their children, this is what they would do. Genius.

  88. Suzy's Mom says:

    I think possoms are cute. Their pointy teefers freak me out a bit though. As long as they keep their wittle moufs shut, I say cute.

  89. mojojojo says:

    i’m with you liz! not cute, nope, not a bit.

    a bow on a possum… ’tis akin to polishing a turd, good people, for no matter how it may shine nothing will ever undo the stink.

  90. Bloo says:

    What’s with all of the possum haters? Like some of y’all I’ve also lived with them all my life – it’s no big deal – just don’t leave cat and dog food out, and you won’t train them to look to you for food. It’s the source of most wildlife badness in my experience. And quit thinking that nothing can share your yard except the animals that you put there…there were woods here before your subdivision was built – where are they supposed to go? /rant over. Cute possum pics.

  91. Fairygirllv says:

    TOO DARN CUTE!!!!

  92. microveldt says:

    Stop, just stop with the taunting. Possums are not cute – that freak is about to suck the life out of that kitten, and remember kittens suck the life out of small babies – so no not good, not cute. Subversive and threatening – ’nuff said.

  93. microveldt says:

    Hi, I’m a complete lame-ass with nothing better to do with my pathetic excuse for a life than troll Cuteoverload.