My new cat and kids,,,,

I saved a stray cat that found me while we were camping, he was real sick and starved, he still is having troubles but doing good for being almost dead when I brought him home, anyway he is real mellow and loves attention but tonite my wifes sister was here and they have a little girl who tried to pet him and he acted like he saw a ghost and took off and hid under the bed till she was gone. Can I assume that where ever he came from he was treated rough by a kid or kids? I have never seen him act like that before. Tom

It may be so, but lots of cats are wary of kids, because of the way they move - in little short fast spurts, and the cats see it as a danger. Also kids do not always know how to pet a cat properly and encourage its aggressive side, with tears all round.

My two hate kids!

They've never been treat badly by them because i've had them from the age of 6 weeks, but if ever my friend brings her son round who's 7 years old they both run up to their room and stay there until he's gone.

Mne hate kids too. Alfie hides under the bed (but then he hides from anyone!) and Max will keep an eye from a safe distance.

Cats who didnt met kids as kitten (ie friendly kids) but only grown ups are often cautious against kids. Even domestic cats.

Your lucky he is just doing it to kids, my cat has started this with everyone that comes into the house. And my grandkids have come every weekend since I got her and she is even doing it with them...I'm stumped, I wish she would just run away and hide but she attacks

Kids can be scarey.
He may, or may not have had a bad experience with kids, more likely though, it is because kids can move fast and unpredictably, and they try to force themselves onpets.