Dear Mr Gridley,
Thank you for sending us the plans for your new apartment block, Gridley Heights. We have read them with interest and some distress.
We note that the windows are flush with the wall. We note that they have no ledges, no sills and no surface of any kind on which a creature might rest. We would like to explain why this is a mistake.
What a ledge is for
A ledge is a place from which to watch the world. It is a stage, a throne and a lookout. From a ledge, a cat can observe the movements of birds, the progress of a neighbour, the arrival of a courier and the changing of the weather. Without a ledge, the cat has only the floor, and the floor is not enough.
What happens without a ledge
When there is no ledge, a cat will find another. She will climb onto the television, the bookcase, the shelf above the shelf, and the head of the sleeping tenant. These are poor substitutes. They move.
Our recommendations
We suggest the following improvements.
- Install a ledge at least 20 centimetres deep
- Add a cushion, or at least the option of a cushion
- Position the ledge at the height of a cat’s chin
- Ensure that the ledge catches the sun after lunch
- Leave a clear view of at least one tree
On heights
We understand that some tenants live on high floors and may be anxious about balconies. Rest assured that every ledge we recommend is wide, stable and well guarded. A ledge should feel like a place you could fall from but never will.
A window without a ledge is a picture. A window with a ledge is a promise.
Cost
We estimate the extra cost at around 1.2 percent of the total budget. We believe this is a small price for peace of mind and the avoidance of sulking.
Conclusion
We urge you to reconsider. We would be delighted to review revised plans, and to visit the site, subject to the availability of a sunbeam.
Yours sincerely, Dame Pillow, Associate Architect.
P.S. We have enclosed our invoice for this letter.
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