The windowsill has been central to feline legal thought for longer than anyone can remember, mainly because no one has stayed awake to write it down. We have done our best.
The Early Ledges
Historians believe the first recorded sill claim was made in the era of stone cottages, when a cat noted that a thick wall made for an excellent bench. The claim was not contested, as there were no other cats and the wall was wide. This is known as the Doctrine of Obvious Convenience.
The Rise of the Double Glazed Sill
Modern windows brought new challenges. Sills grew narrower, plants arrived, and the question of whose pot was whose became a legal minefield. Case law from the period suggests that a cat may sit among the plants provided it does not eat them, though the penalty for eating them has been consistently ignored.
Landmark Decisions
- The Sparrow Precedent: watching a bird is not trespass
- The Net Curtain Accord: a net curtain may be pushed aside but not removed
- The Radiator Beneath Ruling: a sill above a radiator is superior in warmth and shall be prized
- The Candle Exception: a candle on a sill is a hazard and the firm advises against it
The Question of the View
A view is not owned by anyone, but a cat is entitled to the best section of it. The firm holds that the central pane gives the widest angle on pigeons, while the corner offers privacy and the occasional wasp.
Looking Ahead
Courts are now facing new challenges: smart blinds, tall candles, and the introduction of a second cat. We expect a flurry of filings, mostly during dinner.
Our firm remains committed to defending the right of every cat to sit, stare, and be admired from the street.
This history is invented for entertainment and no real court was consulted.