Paroodectes ("near Oodectes") is an extinct genus of placental mammals from clade Carnivoraformes, that lived in Europe during the middle Eocene.

[2][3][4][5] It lived in rain forests and swamps and was a prehistoric predator that had the size and appearance of a cat and was well adapted to climbing, as is apparent from its limbs, joints and shoulder bones.

Only one species of Paroodectes (P. feisti) has been found, and this was at the Messel Pit located southeast of Frankfurt, Germany.

The pit was formed during the Geiseltalian Period (or Middle Eocene) about 50 million years ago.

It was described in 1980 by Rainer Springhorn who said the following about the species: "The odontological features of the Messel-Miacid are nearest to the new world genus Oodectes from the Bridger Basin (Bridgerian).