What was that all about?!

So Jack's been with us 2 weeks on saturday and Rosie and Sophie get on great with him now, from playing with him, to grooming him

Last night Jack was sprawled across my lap asleep and Rosie sat by my side getting some scritches as she watched Jack sleeping, when all of a sudden she bopped him on the head then jumped down and trotted off.

What was that for?

I am not sure why, but mine have done that before as well. One of my kittens, she is very fiesty and zesty, and playful and cheeky, and I have seen her do this a couple of times too 1 of my other kittys ( a more mellow one ) mellow Meisha may be just laying there on me or next too me, and the fiesty Shiska just tap's ? smacks ? with her front paw, not hard really just enough for Meisha to feel it, and just hops off , tail up all MISSY like maybe for attention, maybe jealousy, maybe just wanting too encourage play....I am not sure

Maybe she wanted to play? or she's telling him "OK junior, lovey time is over...I'm the boss and I say it's time to go do cat stuff"

She probably just didn't want him to have exclusive attention...silly snitty kitty...they do seem to be getting along very very well!

Is Rosie the one that normally sits in your lap? If so, she is probably trying to teach Jack his boundaries (e.g. the lap is all MINE! What are you doing on it?).

One of the things that I notice in my very large household is that the lap holds a special place for all of them. They don't normally fight for it (just the occassional swat), but the one that lands in the prime spot can sit there looking smug at the others, with the others doing things to get my attention.

If Jack and Rosie are both lap cats, they will work it out over time and they will probably find a way to share your lap. It's still a little early for them.

I think it is just asserting her authority. Lucy does that with Carly, but it is more of a run by whacking.

Originally Posted by Momofmany

Is Rosie the one that normally sits in your lap? .

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Both her and Sophie lie on my lap together if i'm laying down on the sofa, so it looks like i'll be having 3 now

It's as if she took advantage of him being asleep to bop him one if that makes sense?. It just seemed so strange when he wasn't doing anything, and it's not like she wasn't getting any attention because i was scritching her head?.

Originally Posted by Momofmany

but the one that lands in the prime spot can sit there looking smug at the others

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Sophie has the smug look because she'll actually stand on Rosie just to get further up to me than what she is

Mmmm-hmmmm...just reminding him who's bosscat, is all.

Ginger does the bopping in my furfamily.

nothing to add - except that sounds really funny - all happy and peaceful then BOP so funny

cats eh ! they always continue to surprise us

The good thing is their getting along, and i suppose it's natutal to have him put in his place even though he's asleep when it happens

Originally Posted by Rosiemac

Both her and Sophie lie on my lap together if i'm laying down on the sofa, so it looks like i'll be having 3 now

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It's a shame that we can't simply grow our laps!

Originally Posted by Momofmany

It's a shame that we can't simply grow our laps!

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I know! because usually Sophies on my abdomen, and Rosies just above my knees, so i dread to think where Jack's going to adopt his position?

Originally Posted by GingersMom

Mmmm-hmmmm...just reminding him who's bosscat, is all.

Ginger does the bopping in my furfamily.

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i would agree, heyu does that to eazy all the time. he can be sleeping, or ust walking past
and BOP then a lick.

i think its just reminder of who is boss.. lol eazy no longer even pays it any attention now.

yes it would be grand if we could grow our laps that had me in giggles hehe

It's a shame that we can't simply grow our laps!

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Hey, I have no problem growing mine. It's the getting rid of it part I have trouble with

Originally Posted by katachtig

...it is more of a run by whacking.

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A run-by whacking! I love it!

That's what big sisters are for!

Tag! You're it!

How I grow my lap: recline on your chair or sofa. Gives them your chest to lay upon, which serves as a great lap extender. If you put your legs up, you have an even bigger lap.

Heck Susan, the most cats that fit on my "lap" at one time was about 7 one night. My lap extended from my neck to my ankles and heaven forbid that I tried to move.

I bet she's not yet 100% comfortable about Jack yet and is still torn on how she should feel. Maybe it's kind of a "Don't you fergit who's mamma boss here, ye upstart!" Or, and I'm warming up to this idea, she doesn't like that he's getting the attention from you when it's HER right, but she's not comfortable enough to give him a real wailing away. Just one lackluster bop (might as well try it, right?) then a walk away because she doesn't really want to get into it with him. She'll try you again later and so help her God, you better be Jack-free! lol

My Buffy sometimes gives Molly bops on the head because, while she still doesn't like her, she accepts that Molly isn't leaving, but she has to try it anyways. But now that I'm thinking about it fully, I'm not completely sure WHY she does it. Why bop them and then walk away? Do they really feel vengeful? Do they understand that the bop won't do anything for them? Does bopping them just make them feel better? Do they do it to reaffirm that they're boss cat? Hmmmm.