A recurring dispute in our claims department concerns the cushion. It lies on the floor, it appears in photographs, and it is occasionally blamed.
The soft landing argument
Some policyholders claim that a cushion beneath a falling item should prevent a loss. Our panel observed that this is true, but only if the cushion is placed there before the fall rather than after.
The trap argument
Others claim that cushions are a trap, placed deliberately by the cat so that she can say the fall was gentle. We have no evidence for this, though it is exactly what a clever cat would do.
The witness argument
A third view holds that the cushion saw everything. We attempted to interview a cushion. It did not respond, which the panel regards as suspicious.
Ruling
The panel has concluded that a cushion is neither a landing, a trap, nor a witness, but a cushion. We recommend that cats be allowed to sit on them as a matter of course.
Public submissions
The panel received eleven written submissions on the subject. Nine argued that the cushion was a soft landing. One argued that it was a trap. One was a drawing of a cushion with a small face, which the panel found moving but unhelpful.
Practical advice
Policyholders are advised not to rely on cushions as a protective measure. Instead, they should keep fragile objects away from edges and cats away from objects. If both are impossible, a cushion is a pleasant thing to have nearby, and it makes the aftermath more comfortable for everyone.
Dissenting opinion
One panel member, a brisk grey cat named Ledger, filed a dissent. It read, in full, “It is a cushion. I am sitting on it.” The panel noted her view and asked her to move.
Closing remark
The cushion has since been returned to the sofa, where it remains under review.
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