If it's any consolation, a friend in Zurich, Switzerland, who had two cats in a second floor apartment (third floor, by American count), had to ask for approval

If it's any consolation, a friend in Zurich, Switzerland, who had two cats in a second floor apartment (third floor, by American count), had to ask for approval from every single neighbor in his medium-sized modern building, before he could build one such stair for his cats. Switzerland has a lot of regulations and procedures for things like this, and, the Swiss will have you know, this is what makes Switzerland great. A few neighbors opposed the stair. My friend had to consult with a lawyer and go through some annoying process to argue that the opposing neighbors were a minority and he was entitled to build the stair. It may have had something to do with a technicality, such as the neighbors missing some deadline and thus failing to register their disapproval (unfortunately, I don't fully remember all the details). In the end, he built the stair, but only one of his cats used it — the other one, the one with the twisted tail, would have nothing with it. Four months ago, my friend went to hike the trails around Machu Picchu. His mother stayed at his place, watching the cats, mail, watering the plants, etc.. While he was abroad, a car ran over the cat, who died one or two days later. I think the stair is still up, but now it never gets any use.