My cat Ingrid has never been much of a lap sitter--generally just if we're on a long trip in the car, and I think she figures that is the safest place.

But the older she gets (she'll be 15 in October), it seems the more protective she is of me (very jealous if another female of any species comes to visit), and more affectionate. If I'm down or tired she's real good about sticking with me--like on the end cushion of the sofa inside the crook of my arm, loking back over her shoulder at me, as if to say "You doing okay? Anything we need to talk about? You all right?" And if I lie down on my back to watch tv, she'll often roost on my chest to keep tabs on me.