Although the North American Opossum is not commonly kept as pet, a growing number of people are fascinated by and dedicated to this unique animal.

North American Opossums are nocturnal, meaning they are active at night and sleep during the day. They generally are pretty slow moving. When frightened, instead of running they will often enter an involuntary shock-like state, known as "playing possum." They will also sometimes hiss or growl, and bare their teeth when frightened or threatened. North American Opossums are very adaptable animals. They can live almost anywhere, provided they have food, water and shelter. They often live in trees, where they use their long, flexible tail to add stability when climbing. They do not, however, hang upside down from their tail. In captivity, North American Opossums can live up to 10 years. In the wild, however, very few Opossums live past their first year. They have numerous predators, including humans. North American Opossums can make great pets. This is especially true if they are hand fed. Hand feeding should begin before their eyes are open for the best results. Because they are nocturnal they are usually not very sociable during the daytime and this should be kept in mind before purchase. Most tame North American Opossums are slow, calm animals that love to be held. They are not known to bite, unless they feel threatened.

The mature North American Opossum is about the size of the average domestic housecat. They have gray or black fur and black eyes. Their nose, feet and tail are pink and their ears are black.

The North American Opossum, also known as the Virginia Possum, is the only marsupial native to North America. They have a wide range that spreads across the United States into Canada. North American Opossums are essential to the ecosystem of North America. They help keep populations of insects and rats down and work as "sanitary workers," cleaning up dead animals. They are also used as important models in biomedical research. Additionally, they are also beneficial to the environment as they eat many types of insects, including cockroaches. They also catch and eat rats and mice and dispose of dead animals and over-ripe fruit and berries.

It has been reported that the North American Opossum is less susceptible to rabies and other diseases than many other kinds of domestic animals.

In captivity they should be fed a varied diet, though cat (not kitten) food is reported to be a good base food.

Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) is a serious medical problem that is commonly found in captivity raised Opossums. This disease is preventable. It is caused by calcium deficiencies in the diet, and so it is important to feed a calcium rich diet. Calcium supplements, however, are not recommended. Other dietary problems, which can lead to this disease, include too much Vitamin A, too much red meat protein and too much fruit. It is equally important not to give too many vitamin supplements as this can contribute to illness.

The North American Opossum generally has two litters a year. The young live in their mother's pouch for about four months, after which they begin to learn to live on their own.