Patches

Patches is the Aster family's household cat who functions as a low‑profile but pivotal emotional anchor in the episode. Patches sleeps on the sofa and, upon Jeremy's presence, recognizes him, meows, and climbs into his arms—providing tactile reassurance that deepens Jeremy's conviction that the recreated home is real. The cat's calm, familiar presence intensifies the crew's moral dilemma by rooting the illusion in ordinary domestic comfort. Patches acts through simple, nonverbal caregiving, shaping the scene's emotional stakes by embodying home and safety.