Thanks everyone. I was reminded of an early Jennie story today. I was just now standing in the kitchen with cats swarming around. Mazy cat approached Jennie with head lowered..offering a head bump kiss. Instead of boxing Mazy cat's ears (which is usually what Jennie does) Jennie licked Mazy cat's forehead. One, two three licks. Mazy cat looked up and waited...I'm sure she was still expecting to get her ears boxed (which, in the rare instances when Jennie DOES lick instead of swat, the ear boxing and swearing soon follows).
Instead Jennie sauntered away. Mazy cat couldn't resist though, and went behind Jennie and swatted at her hind legs. THEN Jennie turned and boxed and swore, and Mazy cat trotted off giggling "haha made you do it".
Anyway, the story I was reminded of happened when Jennie was still new here. Newer, anyway. She had, by the time this took place, started getting on the furniture a little. Before Jennie came the cat dynamic was pretty mellow and benign. There was very little sweating, nobody was getting his or her ears boxed. Lots of love to go around. Mazy cat was used to approaching Tolly with that head lowered posture and getting lots of kisses for it.
So one day I came home from work and found Jennie sleeping on the bed. When she saw me looking at her she did flinch and start to jump off, but she was starting to learn it was okay, and she didn't quite run away. Instead I sat down on the bed next to her and fussed over her, petting and telling her how loved she is, and how it's okay she can go anywhere she wants in this house.
The others started wandering in (it was Ootay, Tolly and Mazy cat then) Not Ootay, she was in retirement and sleeping most of the time. But Tolly and Mazy cat came in and Mazy cat jumped up on the bed and approached Jennie with her head lowered, expecting a couple of nice licks and maybe a headbump back. Instead she got her ears boxed, got sworn at scandalously, then Jennie jumped down and stalked off, swatting Tolly and swearing at him as she passed him, as well.
Poor Mazy cat! She just wasn't used to such treatment! She looked at me and said "prrt prrt! Prrt?" I could just tell what she was saying. "What'd I do Mom? I just wanted to say hello. Geez, what did I do wrong?"
Another thing involving Jennie and Mazy cat was meal times. Jennie had to learn some manners such as "We do not barge in and chase someone away from her own food dish". Mazy cat had the same reaction, when Jennie barged Mazy cat out, and stole her food. She looked so hurt..she just didn't know what to do!
Jennie has learned manners, and come a long way from those early days, but she stil has a gutter mouth.
The other cats are just used to it now, that's all.