Will My Children Accept the Responsibility of Pet Ownership Now?

Over the years we have owned fish, gerbils, and even a dog.  Fish don't make the best companions for small children because they don't live long.  Gerbils don't make for the greatest pets either.  Well, when we had them our kids enjoyed them, but unfortunately two years ago when we moved here they kept dying on us.  It was very emotional.  We finally decided it was happening because someone in the house had a rodent deterring device so we decided it wasn't a good idea to keep watching these gerbils go crazy and ultimately die.
Ultimately we decided to get a dog.  Unfortunately the children weren't prepared to walk him as often as he needed to.  We ended up placing him in a new home because the children couldn't devote the time to him that he deserved.  My husband wanted a cat all this time.  I'm allergic to cats.  He had found out that Siamese cats are good for people with allergies though so he was trying to find one.  When this Domestic Shorthair that we have no named Chester fell into our laps.
I was super hesitant about keeping him!
Of course because of my allergies.  I had no idea if I would be a sneezing, itchy, watery eye mess.  I told everyone if we're going to keep him it can't be like our last pet experience.  He has to be cared for A LOT!  There would need to be daily brushings to keep the shedding down. There would need to be litter box scooping.  I do not want to smell cat poop or pee ever!  He cannot be stuck in a corner and forgotten about and I will do NOTHING when it comes to his care.  Everyone has agreed that they will step it up this time.
They are older so maybe they can handle it!
Maybe just maybe they get it now.  Pets are a huge responsibility!  It has only been three days since Chester joined our family.  I must admit this non cat person is very impressed with him.  He's been great with the kids.  In particular the little ones.  That was a huge worry.  The baby doesn't know that pulling a cats tail is a no no, but so far he has been really go with the flow.  When the little ones get to be too much for him he goes behind the couch or finds comfort with one of the older children.  He hasn't hissed at anyone or gone to claw them.  Which is great!
Has there been a difference in the children?
I am seeing a great reaction from the children as well.  Here's what I've noticed:

1. The big kids have so far stuck to their end of the bargain.  They have fed him and scooped the litter box without being told and they have brushed him everyday so far.

Image via Wikipedia

2. My 4 year old son who is giving me a run for my money with potty training seems to have been inspired by the fact that the cat does his business in his designated area.  I might be getting ahead of myself here and I hope I'm not jinxing anything, but we just might be getting past the occasional accidents that he would have.  He has been announcing that he does his business just like Chester does though.  So fingers crossed here.
3. Maybe this is just the newness of him and all, but they are so into Chester that the bickering in my house has actually gone down.  They finally found something they can all play with together and not fight about, most of the time.

So far so good.
I know it's very early on and everyone is still adjusting to things, but I am surprisingly optimistic.  My allergies haven't really bothered me.  The 1st night I was worried because I had a sneezing fit, but it never developed beyond that.  No itchy watery eyes and the sneezing subsided.  As long as the children continue to take care of them we should be fine.  And I think this has been a great thing for them to learn a little extra responsibility.   The big girls might just finally be the perfect age to be handling this.  They are after all earning their own money now walking the neighbor's dog.  Lets just hope they don't decide that they need to be paid to take care of their own pet.
How do your children do with the responsibility of pet ownership?  Do you think they are learning important lessons having to look out for someone besides themselves?