"If a toddler can listen and follow a "leave the animal alone" rule, why can't an 8-year-old?"

because not all children are the same?

--signed, someone who has been trying to get their 13-yr-old to fucking stop bothering the cats all the goddamn time since said 13-yr-old was an actual literal baby but neurodivergence and hyperfixation are, you know, Things.

(10 year old? has been able to leave animals alone on request since about age 8 months. they are also neurodivergent but are not hyperfixated on cats.)