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Sneaky wild possum tricks kindhearted grandma into taking care of him
The way she reacted when she learned the animal's true identity is so sweet!
Rachel Shapiro
09.01.21

Eric Hertlein’s grandma is a kind woman who loves caring for the stray cats in her Kansas neighborhood. She sets up soft and warm beds on her porch for the cats to sleep on. She also gives them food. Sometimes, she even invites them into her home.

But one day, Eric went over to his grandma’s house and saw an animal that very much wasn’t a cat hanging on one of his grandma’s beds: a possum.

Unsplash/Mikell Darling
Source:
Unsplash/Mikell Darling

The funniest part is that Eric’s grandma didn’t realize she had an imposter in her midst. She thought the possum was another stray cat!

Eric discovered the possum when he swung by his grandmother’s house to say hello. When he walked into her home, she was there to greet him, along with all the normal array of cats that he’s used to seeing.

Eric Hertlein via Twitter
Source:
Eric Hertlein via Twitter

Then he saw the possum “cat.”

The possum was enjoying a nice comfy bed all of its own. Eric had to post a picture on Twitter.

Eric’s grandma could tell that he seemed a bit shocked by the “cat,” but she reassured him that he’d been coming around for a while now and that she’d named him Tete. Eric didn’t know whether to be alarmed or completely amused by his grandmother’s naivety.

“She reassured me it was one of her cats,” Eric told The Dodo. “I told her it wasn’t what she thought it was.”

Eric Hertlein via Twitter
Source:
Eric Hertlein via Twitter

After her grandson told her that Tete was actually a possum, the grandma was a bit shocked and confused at first.

“I laughed for a good five minutes,” Eric said. “She didn’t realize what I was laughing about until I started pointing out the pointy nose and skinny tail. She didn’t realize he wasn’t a cat.”

Having trouble wrapping her head around the fact that she’s had a possum in her home for the past few weeks, she got a little closer to get a better look at Tete.

As it turns out, the fact that he was a possum didn’t seem to bother the grandmother whatsoever.

“She kinda just sat there,” Eric remembers. “Then she got a little closer … and slowly looked up at me with the biggest grin on her face and said, ‘Well, he hasn’t bothered me yet, so I’m OK with him being here!'”

Eric Hertlein via Facebook
Source:
Eric Hertlein via Facebook

Not only has Eric’s grandmother accepted the possum as a foster pet, but the cats don’t seem to mind at all either.

How Tete seemed to adapt so well to the other kitties, as well as humans, was a bit of a mystery.

It’s assumed, however, that the possum was most likely orphaned as a baby. When he first showed up to Eric’s grandma’s house, he looked a bit like a wet kitten. Like this.

Even after finding out the truth about Tete, Eric’s grandmother still welcomed the possum into her home like she would any other animal in need. It speaks volumes to her character; it is clear that she is a very kind and compassionate woman.

“She loves animals and taking care of them whenever she can,” Eric said. “It kind of just motivates you to do better and treat other beings better too.”

ducky312 via Reddit
Source:
ducky312 via Reddit

We love how Eric’s grandma kept taking care of the possum even after his real identity was revealed. She is one kindhearted woman who loves all creatures, big and small.

If you want to see another adorable story of someone taking in a possum in need, check out the video below!

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