Natasha Perfect is upset about her possum, Possyum which has been missing since monday night.

A Hamilton woman is distraught after her bottle-fed pet possum went walkabout three days ago.



Natasha Perfect arrived home from work on Monday and was looking forward to cuddles and some quality time with Possyum when disaster struck.



"I got home at night and I got him out as I normally do," she said. "I actually had him out for a while and he gave me some cuddles, he was being very sweet that night."



The missing marsupial is usually housed in a large purpose built cage only metres from Perfect's back door. Possyum is allowed in the house when Perfect returns from work but tragically, on Monday evening, Perfect thinks she probably left the back door open allowing Possyum to escape over the back fence.



"My dog gave him a fright, so he ran along the fence jumped up on the roof and disappeared - and I haven't seen him since."

CHRISTEL YARDLEY/Fairfax NZ. Natasha Perfect's pet possum lives in a large purpose built cage only metres from the back door.

For the last two days and nights, the Huntington resident has been distributing flyers in the neighbourhood and posting on various Facebook pages.

"Just anywhere and everywhere to get the word out, my friends have been sharing the posts so hopefully someone sees him," she said.

Perfect said Possyum is the size of a small cat and is a chocolate brown and red colour. She raised the possum since birth, often getting up during the night to feed him, even allowing it to sleep in her bed.

"He's very sweet and friendly, but I can imagine if people find him they might get a bit of a fright because he might want to jump on their shoulder."

The non-practicing vet nurse has always loved animals, and understands it can seem unusual to some. She adopted the possum as a joey after his mother was shot.

"Being an animal-lover, most of my friends are too, so most of them think he's amazing. They think he's absolutely beautiful and love that he's so tame."

"I have had a few bad reactions also, but mostly it's positive," she said. "I know they are not for everybody."

Although he climbs the curtains, furniture and up on the fridge the family "all love him".

In a bid to entice her furry friend home Perfect has left his cage open and left licorice treats at the door to guide his way home.

"A possum will eat pretty much anything. He loves anything sweet."

Possums are territorial and like to stay in a 100 meter range, so Perfect hopes he will not be far and return home safely.

"I try to think he's just out there having a really good time, and he's not listening because he's too busy eating leaves...I'd just love to have my baby back."