logo
Funny Animals Interesting Freaky Pop Culture

Man Drops Off "Hairless Cat" At Animal Rescue Shelter But It Was Actually A Baby Possum

by Elana

The South Plains Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (SPWRC) is a Texas non-profit organization with a sincere goal to "provide humane care and rehabilitation to orphaned, ill, injured and displaced wildlife." They always hope for rehabilitation and release.

One chilly day in late October, a man stumbled upon a hairless, pink animal, alone and incredibly cold. Fearing the animal would not make it through the night, he bundled the little critter up and brought it to SPWRC.

Gail Barnes, who is the executive director of SPWRC, was watching on camera as the man dropped off a small box near the intake building. In fact, Gale had received a call that an abandoned baby possum would be dropped off, but from looking at the camera and upon first inspection, Gale thought a hairless cat had been dropped off isntead!

In an interview with The Dodo, Gail chuckled:

“As I was bringing the box back, this arm comes out ... and it’s hairless, and I go, ‘Oh my gosh, this is not the possum. This must be a hairless cat.’”In an interview with The Dodo, Gail chuckled:southplainswildlife

Of course, in the safety and warmth of the facility, Gail realized the baby animal was indeed a possum.

The wild possum had only a few speckles and sprinkles of hair on its feet.

Of course, in the safety and warmth of the facility, Gail realized the baby animal was indeed a possum.South Plains Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

She told The Dodo:

“I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, she’s so cold,! She was hypothermic so we had to warm her up. We put her in the incubator and got socks, heated them up, and got her temperature back up to where it was supposed to be.”She told The Dodo:South Plains Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

With no idea how long the baby possum had been without her mother, their first warmed up possum goal became weight gain.

They gave the baby possum a variety of foods to snack on and said that she eagerly and gladly ate it all right up!

“If the mother knows that something is wrong with the baby they’re going to drop them off or discard them. So she probably was scared to death.”With no idea how long the baby possum had been without her mother, their first warmed up possum goal became weight gain.South Plains Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

Upon closer inspection, vets at the facility realized why the baby possum appeared to look almost like a hairless cat at first.

She has alopecia, an auto-immune disease causing hair loss. With no fur to protect her from the elements like extreme cold and heat, this little possum would never be safely released back into the wild.

Instead, SPWRC put out a call to action, requesting sweaters for the hairless little one.

Upon closer inspection, vets at the facility realized why the baby possum appeared to look almost like a hairless cat at first.South Plains Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

Dubbed Peach, she has since received donations from across the community including pouches, sweaters, and hand-me-down clothes from hairless cat owners.

Peach has more than doubled her weight, thankfully, and she will have a possum roommate named Remy. The duo will live in an indoor/outdoor enclosure featuring a cozy den for snuggled up naps and plenty of space to roam and play.

Dubbed Peach, she has since received donations from across the community including pouches, sweaters, and hand-me-down clothes from hairless cat owners.texasmonthly

Thanks to an improved diet, Peach is growing some hair, but her condition will still prevent her from ever being released.

When SPWRC put a call to action out requesting clothes for Peach, they probably did not anticipate such an enthusiastic response. Gail says that Peach now has a summer and winter wardrobe. What a lucky, little lady!

Thanks to an improved diet, Peach is growing some hair, but her condition will still prevent her from ever being released.metro

Gail and other volunteers with SPWRC insist they do not usually advocate for dressing up wildlife animals, but Peach is a special case.

They hope that the alopecia possum will help reduce stigma around possums in general. Gail told The Dodo:

“Possums are one of the most misunderstood animals. People trap them, they don’t want them in their yard, they think they look prehistoric because they have more teeth than any other mammal. But they’re really very beneficial. They’re scavengers — they eat all your insects, your bugs and your snakes."

To donate a small sweater to the possum, you can address it to South Plains Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, 3308 95th Street, Lubbock, Texas, 79423. To help the center care for wildlife in need, you can make a monetary donation via PayPal.

Share this article:

Facebook icon Pinterest icon Tumblr icon Link icon Twitter icon

Related Articles

15 Hilarious Photos From The 2024 Comedy Pet Photo Awards

15 Hilarious Photos From The 2024 Comedy Pet Photo Awards

Cat Owner Made The Ultimate Cat-Sitting Manual To Ensure Her Cats Get Royal Treatment

Cat Owner Made The Ultimate Cat-Sitting Manual To Ensure Her Cats Get Royal Treatment

Here Are 30 Of The Cutest Animal Memes To Feel Your Day With Warmth And Fuzziness

Here Are 30 Of The Cutest Animal Memes To Feel Your Day With Warmth And Fuzziness

Cat Collects So Many Neighbor's Shoes, Owner Creates Facebook Group To Return Them

Cat Collects So Many Neighbor's Shoes, Owner Creates Facebook Group To Return Them

Exceptionally Rare "Doomsday Fish" Discovered Off Southern California Coast

Exceptionally Rare "Doomsday Fish" Discovered Off Southern California Coast

Here’s A Look At The World’s Largest Spider That’s Moved Into Northern South America

Here’s A Look At The World’s Largest Spider That’s Moved Into Northern South America

This Beloved Penguin Was Famous For A Fascinating Reason—And The World Is Morning Its Death

This Beloved Penguin Was Famous For A Fascinating Reason—And The World Is Morning Its Death

Lily Allen Gave Up Her Adopted Dog For The Strangest Reason

Lily Allen Gave Up Her Adopted Dog For The Strangest Reason

Toronto Zoo Orangutan's Daring Escape Attempt From Outdoor Habitat Caught On Video By Surprised Guests

Toronto Zoo Orangutan's Daring Escape Attempt From Outdoor Habitat Caught On Video By Surprised Guests

A Look At The Terrifying Moment Orca Came Into View With Trainer In Its Mouth

A Look At The Terrifying Moment Orca Came Into View With Trainer In Its Mouth

Scientists Detect DNA Of Alive Prehistoric Fish In The Connecticut River, Kicking Off A Race To Locate It

Scientists Detect DNA Of Alive Prehistoric Fish In The Connecticut River, Kicking Off A Race To Locate It

Golden Eagle Attacks 20-Month-Old Girl And Three Others In Norway, Leaving Deep Wounds

Golden Eagle Attacks 20-Month-Old Girl And Three Others In Norway, Leaving Deep Wounds

Portland Airport Gains Popularity Online For Its Therapy Liamas

Portland Airport Gains Popularity Online For Its Therapy Liamas

Artist's Reimagined Disney-Style Pet Portraits Leave Their Owners In Awe

Artist's Reimagined Disney-Style Pet Portraits Leave Their Owners In Awe

Scientists Poured Cement Into Abandoned Ant Hill And Made Interesting Discovery

Scientists Poured Cement Into Abandoned Ant Hill And Made Interesting Discovery

Gen Z Revamps Animal Shelter’s Marketing, and the Internet Can't Get Enough

Gen Z Revamps Animal Shelter’s Marketing, and the Internet Can't Get Enough

22 Heartwarming Pictures Of Overly Cute Dogs That'll Leave You Grinning From Ear To Ear

22 Heartwarming Pictures Of Overly Cute Dogs That'll Leave You Grinning From Ear To Ear

From Mischief To Fame—Raccoon Becomes TikTok Sensation

From Mischief To Fame—Raccoon Becomes TikTok Sensation

Veterinarian Sparks Debate By Naming 5 Dog Breeds He’d Avoid

Veterinarian Sparks Debate By Naming 5 Dog Breeds He’d Avoid

Philip, "The Sad Cat," Is Longer Upset After Reuniting With His Long-Distance Human After Two Years

Philip, "The Sad Cat," Is Longer Upset After Reuniting With His Long-Distance Human After Two Years

Famous "Catographer" Shares Some Of The Meanest-Looking Cat Portraits, And They Are Adorably Terrifying

Famous "Catographer" Shares Some Of The Meanest-Looking Cat Portraits, And They Are Adorably Terrifying

Canadian Border Agents Stunned By Unexpected Find After Peeking Into Mysterious Box From China

Canadian Border Agents Stunned By Unexpected Find After Peeking Into Mysterious Box From China

Four Pandas Delight Zoo Visitors With An Adorable Tea Party Picnic

Four Pandas Delight Zoo Visitors With An Adorable Tea Party Picnic

50 Rescued Cats and Their Inspiring Makeovers

50 Rescued Cats and Their Inspiring Makeovers

Cat’s Apology Card Goes Viral After Vet Visit Gone Wrong

Cat’s Apology Card Goes Viral After Vet Visit Gone Wrong

Historic 900-Year-Old English Abbey Officially Employs Two Dogs As Their Assistant Vergers

Historic 900-Year-Old English Abbey Officially Employs Two Dogs As Their Assistant Vergers

Categories

Funny Animals Interesting Freaky Pop Culture

Business

About Us Advertise Contact Us

Legal

Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy DMCA Removal
 Logo
About Us Privacy DMCA Removal Contact Us Terms Funny Animals Interesting Freaky Pop Culture

© 2025 - All Rights Reserved

 logo

Sign In to

facebook icon Sign in with facebook
facebook icon Sign in with google

Or sign in with email

Need an account? Sign Up

Forgot Password?

By creating an account, you agree to the Terms of Service

 logo

Sign Up to

Already have an account? Sign In

By creating an account, you agree to the Terms of Service

Edit profile

User Photo