Rescue Opossum Who Didn't Trust People Loves To Snuggle Now

When Opie the opossum was first rescued, he didn't really trust anyone. He was living in a filthy cage, and hadn't truly been cared for or handled in three or four months.

The 8-month-old opossum growled whenever anybody came close to him, and hated being touched. Whatever happened to him in his early life had left him nervous and unsure, and it was going to take a lot of patience and love to restore his faith again.

When Opie's mom adopted him, she dreamed of a day when the sweet little guy would be cuddly and trusting - but she knew he had a long way to go.

Opie lived in a cage on the sunporch at his mom's house, where he had the freedom to roam if he wanted to. Though at first he preferred to stay in the comfort of his cage ...

... slowly but surely, Opie began to emerge. And then he began to trust.

Opie's mom already had a few cats when Opie was adopted, and at first they weren't allowed near the young opossum. While they're still not exactly the best of friends ...

... they've learned to accept and love each other, as siblings always do.

While Opie is obviously different from a typical pet, he's also not so different in a lot of ways. He has favorite toys ...

... he loves to snuggle up and hang out with his family ...

... nap time is his absolute FAVORITE ...

... and he's ALWAYS excited when it's time to eat.

Opie started life neglected and alone, but now, he has more love than he even knows what to do with.

While Opie's story is unusual because he was found in captivity, it's often illegal to keep wildlife as pets. Don't get arrested! Read here to find out what to do if you find a wild animal who needs help.