My seven-year-old nephew is an almighty little bundle of energy -- he comes bounding into Grandma's house at top speed and top volume, and woe betide anybody who gets caught in his path!
But the moment he sees the cats, he goes instantly still and quiet. He gets down on the floor and holds out his hand, and he talks very softly to the kitties. When they come closer, he pets them ever so gently, and he never grabs or tries to hold them against their will. Of all the things I've tried to teach him, this is the one he has taken most to heart -- he's GREAT with cats.
His mother is a different story. She and my brother are separated, but we still see her sometimes, and she was with us for Thanksgiving. When one of the cats rubbed against her boots, she pulled back and snapped, "Go away!"
My nephew said, "Mom! He just likes you!"
She replied, "Well, I don't like HIM."
And my wonderful nephew went over to his mom and put his hand on her shoulder and said, "You don't not like him, Mom. You just don't KNOW him."
Is this a great kid or what? :-)
But the moment he sees the cats, he goes instantly still and quiet. He gets down on the floor and holds out his hand, and he talks very softly to the kitties. When they come closer, he pets them ever so gently, and he never grabs or tries to hold them against their will. Of all the things I've tried to teach him, this is the one he has taken most to heart -- he's GREAT with cats.
His mother is a different story. She and my brother are separated, but we still see her sometimes, and she was with us for Thanksgiving. When one of the cats rubbed against her boots, she pulled back and snapped, "Go away!"
My nephew said, "Mom! He just likes you!"
She replied, "Well, I don't like HIM."
And my wonderful nephew went over to his mom and put his hand on her shoulder and said, "You don't not like him, Mom. You just don't KNOW him."
Is this a great kid or what? :-)
