I always thnought of the Dr's relationship with the Tardis as more like with a very dear and long loved and reciprocally useful pet, a dog like a retriever more than a cat (cats NEVER do waht they'e told! though there are bits of both. I mean for heaven's sake he *strokes* it. But no, not a lover.

ps most this Tardis history of which we speak is usefully recapped in this month's DWM..