I have never owned a cat. But members of my family have brought cats into the house.
They pee and poop in the house. They cause the house to stink with a stench that remains for years.
I can always tell when there is a cat in the house.
Nice that your children never peed or pooped. OR —had miraculous diapers that doused all odors.
My DH never had a cat before he met me. Never liked them, never wanted one. He was surprised at himself when he finally got to know a cat. They HAVE personalities, he said!!