After 10 years, my daughter (the 10 year old), and the cat (age 15 more or less) how they have finally come to an appreciation of each other.

It might be more accurate to say that Natalie has finally come to understand, and acquiesce, to Lavi being a cat.

Natalie has always been Lavi’s person, just as Charlie has always been Tudza’s person. (I’m the mommy, they imprinted on me)

However, Natalie has only recently come to internalize the fact that Lavi is not a doll.

I don’t mean that she did things like dress Lavi up in dresses, but rather that unlike an inanimate toy, you have to reach an accommodation with a cat.

Natalie has never been comfortable with the cat sleeping on her, or with sharing her pillow with her, but finally, Natalie has created a space on her bed, right next to her own pillow, which is Lavi’s.

The surprising thing was that she could find space on her bed for this. There are about 80 gazillion stuffed animals on it (Only a slight exaggeration. This Weekend she said that she was at 357).

So now Lavi has her space, and Natalie has her space, and I don’t have complaints that, “Lavi is sleeping on me.”

Works for me.