Odessa The Diva

ODESSA, THE
DIVA

WATCH ME GROW!
Date	Weight
8/9/07	3lb, 1.5oz
8/30/07	3lb, 13.5oz
9/20/07	4lb, 10oz

Odessa was rescued at the same time as her brother, Waldo (numbers 2 and 3), but she made it safely into the play-pen on the first try. This picture was taken on one of the days in June that I was recuperating from surgery at home. Brownie had brought the kittens up to eat, and this little one strolled up to the deck door and peered in at me. I was sure it was a little boy, and started calling him "Otto". When we brought him inside, we discovered we had a little girl, so her name was changed to Odessa, or "Dessa" for short. (That's Button in the background.)

Brownie's litter is full of surprises, including this little bundle of energy. One of the males hanging around the house was a gray and white long-hair cat that we called 'Bootsie'. Bootsie used to sleep behind the bushes along the front of our house over spring and summer, disappearing during winter, so we think he has a home somewhere in the neighborhood. I think Bootsie was Odessa's father, as she has very soft, fluffy long gray and white fur. Of the four kittens, she is the only one with this characteristic. She is a lovely, tiny kitten, but very skittish and timid.

She loves to play with the other kittens, and has been bold enough to venture into other rooms in the house. But she is quite timid and ran to her favorite hiding hole, the TV stand in the living room when approached. Most of the little kittens like this location, as there are tiers with warm electronics to sit on or against. Plus, there is enough space behind the devices that they can safely withdraw, where we could not reach them very well. This picture was taken in July 2007.

I have made Odessa my "special project". Until recently, she would not let anyone approach her. When it was time for a visit to the vet for her shots, she made me chase her all over the house. Eventually, I realized this might be a game, as when I would finally corner her, she would begin to purr as soon as I touched her to pick her up.

(Picture from August 2007, she wasn't quite sure of me yet.)

So instead of fearing that I was traumatizing her by chasing her all over, I made it a point to single her out for some special attention every evening. This even got to the point where I would drag her out from under my bed. (But she did not run!!!)

(Picture taken September 2007 on the climbing tree. Isn't that a gorgeous tail???)

Now, it's almost October, and Odessa still does not let me approach her in the open. But she almost comes to me from under the bed. She does not like to be cuddled, but set her down near you, and she will let you pet her and return the affection twice over. She also will now play with me and even come into a room where I am sitting.

When playing with the other kittens, she hangs back almost as if she is intimidated by the ferocity some of the others play with. So I try to engage her directly with the boa, and she does respond, if for short periods of time.

In this picture from September 2007, I caught her playing with a sheet of newspaper advertisement laying on the floor. Isn't she just precious?