I don't know if I agree with the "warm-blooded furniture" simile. I think cats see people as servants. The job description includes providing a lap, as well as filling the food dish, opening doors and petting. Sometimes the servant receives a bonus (besides the obvious privilege of serving the cat) of what Linn the Bat Goddess would call an "L.D.G." (little dead guy) left in a conspicuous (read: "what the **** did I just step in/on") spot.