Sometimes I wish.. (non-cat lovers vs cats)

My nieces spent the night last night (well, they're still here, just asleep!)

My nieces are doing better about keeping quiet around them, not to chase after them and such, but kids being kids, they still get excited when they see them. They're 5, 7 and 9 (the 7 year old has some sort of mental disability that we're still trying to figure out what.. ADD? Dyslexic? we're not sure yet)

Monet is brave and he roams around to inspect. he'd either run away or hiss and threaten to swat at the kids if they got too close. He even joined us at dinner, swiping food off the table (which the kids really enjoyed watching)

Cassie just remains under the bed the entire time.

One of my nieces said I should've gotten a dog because they're friendlier and approachable. It kind of stung a bit (can't be mad at her, she's the 7 year old). She's becoming afraid of Monet now.

Sometimes I wish they could see my cats as they really are.. Cassie as the one that tags along at your heals, full of purrs and snuggles. Monet as himself, not hissing and accepting pets and wanting to play tag. That way they can see why I love them so much.

My mom's starting to see why I love my cats, since she's coming around more often (new home, closer to her, easier to come by).. and Monet's getting used to her. He actually let her pet him the other day and he has never, ever let anyone but me touch him)

it just makes me feel bad that they can't see and share my love for them as they are.. I wish they didn't see them so differently.

I know there's nothing I can do, cats will be cats and if they're afraid of loud, energized kids, I don't blame me (They scare me sometimes!). and it's hard to have young kids understand that they're cats, not dogs.

I don't know why I felt the need to write this semi-rant.. maybe because I know you guys understand and most likely encountered the same feelings. I am just trying not to let it get to me.

anyways.. rant over. Hope everyone is having a beautiful day today!

All it takes is for the cats to become more comfortable around the kids, our cats still hiss at our 7 year grandson too, but by the second or third day they allow him to pet them. If yours are only around them for a day, they may take a LONG time to get used to them, and possibly never will. I guess the best thing to do is to keep bringing up how much more friendly they are once they get to know someone, and say they are much more independent then dogs and don't live for pleasing a master. I keep bringing up that a cat is to be left alone when they hiss or their tail swishes, my grandson got scratched to learn that point and I told him then that dogs can bite too.I am trying to teach him to love ALL animals, we must when they are small and haven't developed all those prejudices yet. I know you didn't require an answer, but I hope maybe someone can post that can help with what to say to people that condemn cats. I always say, I don't particularly like dogs, I've had several, but I would never say I hate them and could harm one in any way like some do to cats. Good luck, I hope things change with time!

@Draco   I think it's good to let out your feelings, so they don't weigh you down. 

I know that growing up, I don't recall many of my school friends as being cat loving people...though there were some family friends, co-workers, neighbours who were...so anyone with an animal, seemed very special.  Some of my friends could not understand the appreciation of cats, and even though I explained it, they really could not understand the appeal, or else they were afraid of them, allergic, and just didn't care.  One friend actually changed her mind, once she got married and her husband had a cat...she finally understood the specialness of cats.

I think your nieces are very young, and even though they may seem to not appreciate cats in quite the same way,  there is really no telling what the future will bring.  I think 5, 7,and 9 are still at an age where they want to hold, pat, run, play with an animal...but as long as you teach them to respect cats, and how to respect all animals...then they will probably grow up with having good memories of a "cool aunt" who has cats and taught them about cats.

I doubt they will ever tell you that, though.  But rather in school, they will tell their friends, or when they are older, they'll decide for themselves.  Plus, they are at the age where t.v., ads, school, parents, affects them...so who knows what next month's ideas will be.  Maybe tropical fish will be the next greatest thing.  You never know, you may think that they don't take in your love of cats...but in actual fact, they each take in a lot, just differently. 

They just need time.  Time to mature and time for you to teach them.     It's a constant work in progress around my house.

There is a teen at my church who was afraid of cats as a kid.  He'd get excited and go "ahh!" and that kind of thing if they came close; like a person would if a spider or snake came near them.  He was at my mother's house for a party several years ago (when he was still a kid) and I saw him react like that to one of her cats.  I just went over and started talking to him about cats; explaining why the cat was doing what she was, how to act, that the way he reacted scared the cat, etc.  Mom's cats are pretty laid back; the cat wasn't bothered by him like mine would have been.  I'd like to think it did some good for him.  He may not ever like cats; but at least it's a step to better understanding and not fearing.  

The cats' reactions to your nieces might change as the kids get older, which could turn the girls into cat lovers. We saw that with Jamie, who accepted our nephew and niece only when they'd reached their teens.

thanks for the replies all! I do feel better.

I completely understand that kids just don't understand and most likely won't until they get older. my oldest niece understands to respect the cats and knows when to back off when Monet hisses. She doesn't go after them like the younger two.

It just makes me sad that they can't enjoy them for who the cats really are, lol. None of their faults, they (The cats and kids) just don't understand each other.

My nieces don't come over very often, due to their rowdyness, mess making and loud screaming. I can't handle that in my place so I don't invite them over (their mother invites herself over with the kids, but it's not too often, thankfully). due to the fact they don't come, and when they do, they're out of control and the cats, naturally, get too scared to come out. I am not seeing the cats getting used to them any time soon because of this, lol.

the sleepover was surprisingly quiet. I am thinking because their parents (and grandparents) weren't here and they know I don't rough-house with them and I like things quiet. Once their dad came to mount my tv and take them home, then they got very loud and rowdy, uncontrollable. This was the only time Monet came out to investigate, and I tried to tell the girls that because they were quiet, the cats would come out, but of course, they didn't get it, lol.

It's hard to deal with all that noise when you are used to quiet!  I NEED a break from the noise even with my own kids.  DH and I are both quiet people.  I joke that if he wasn't we never would have worked out!  Mooch and Noodles has their first 5 years with just the 2 of us.  It was a big change for all of us to have babies and now little kids around.  My kids don't nap anymore; but they get quiet time in their bedrooms every afternoon.  I need that time to decompress.  I also need some time after they are in bed for the night.  It's during quiet time and after bedtime that Mooch and Noodles come out more.  My DD loves the cats and they are getting more comfortable with her; but they are still only at the point of going to her when she is laying in bed.  If she pets them there they still run off sometimes.  But that's Noodles' personality with anyone.