Mumsnet Talk

Ok this is weird, isn't it? We got a kitten in May. He's 8 months old. Whenever I say something cute about him, DD goes into a strop, saying I love the cat more than her, saying that I think the cat is more important, that i play with him more, give him more attention etc. She says I never make nice comments about her. But that is so not true. She's 7, and smart, and we talk a lot, and she'll have a good point, and I'll say "wow you are really smart" or something like that. I don't coo over her like a baby or a kitten, but, really, shouldn't you compliment older children's minds rather than their cuteness?? Sibling rivalry with a pet seems really bonkers, especially as DD is bright and clever otherwise.

Does anyone else have this?

OMG! Thought my dd was the only one who was like this. She does seem to have mainly grown out of it now (she is 6) but when she was younger she would cry if the cat sat on my knee or I picked it up, or would try to climb on with the cat. She still asks questions like your dd though if I make a fuss of the cat, like "do you like the cat or me best mummy?". She does love the cat though, and lately she seems more able to view the cat objectively and talks to it in the same way as I do. Think it is helping that the cat seems to love dd and will sit on her lap.

Yes! DS and cat generally get on well but if the cat sits on my lap suddenly DS is there too... (and very shortly afterwards the cat has scarpered).

But that does sound hard for you guys. Can you sit down with her and have a proper talk about it?

My DS is like this too. He's getting better after reassurance that I love him far more than the cat. Our cat is really timid and only really likes me so I don't think that helps. I try to reserve my most loving cat chat for when I'm alone with the cat - probably a good thing really as I can get very soppy

DD was very put out for a while that she would get told off and the cats not - I guess it was a form of sibling rivalry, like a child with a smaller sibling who gets away with stuff because they're too young to understand. She seems to be over it though - I guess in part because she sees me annoyed with the cats for one reason or another, and knows they don't really get special treatment. It may also help that the cats are resolutely NOT lapcats, so don't get much in the way of cuddles, whereas she can get all the cuddles she wants (unless she's being particularly foul).

Plus I have tried giving her a bellyrub, and she seems to find it annoying, whereas at least one of the cats likes it ...

Yes...and ds is 16! I do point out that he is too big to sit on my knee and be cuddled, and I do offer to tickle his tummy, but he just humphs and strolls off.

Your post made smile. Our nearly 3 year old is jealous of cuddles to the rabbits, bless her, and will quite often do attention seeking stuff when I give the pets too much attention.
I guess it makes sense, even for a 7 year old -- their mum is giving attention to someone else ...

Dd is 10 and jealous of the dog.

When I get home from work the dog comes running to me and dd throws herself inbetween and screams that I'm her mummy, not the dogs mummy.

I am 43 and I get jealous that DH lies on the sofa giving the bloody cat tummy rubs and worrying if she has a flea and whether or not she likes the fecking expensive cat food he has chosen for her.