Petting the Kitty

a) To cautiously treat an individual so not to upset them or anger them.
b) To calm down, listen too, and reassure an agitated person.
c) The process of giving someone upset the ”there, there” pat on the back, for a matter that the upset person has overreacted on.
d) Making someone feel better about their incompetence.

Someone (co-worker, friend, etc) makes a mistake, is terribly upset, but not taking responsibility for their mistake. That "there, there" when not needed but will calm the upset person down so that you don't have to deal with there attitude. You are now petting the kitty to calm them down.

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