Looking at the story, the evidence against the cat was circumstantial. The process of elimination was arbitrary.I thought about a few things. What was a kerosene lamp doing there at all. Let alone being left lit. What's wrong with a light switch. The cat may have had it's tail burned. because the dog went for it's life and didn't wake the cat up. The rest of the family was away,(coincidence?) the fire was in the shed so the exit would not be blocked. If the owner said he was saved by a cat he'd have a lot more trouble convincing people and the dog would get the blame, but dogs don't usually sleep ion a shelf with a Kerosene lamp How did the fire spread so quickly to the house, so there was ...

Looking at the story, the evidence against the cat was circumstantial. The process of elimination was arbitrary.I thought about a few things. What was a kerosene lamp doing there at all. Let alone being left lit. What's wrong with a light switch. The cat may have had it's tail burned. because the dog went for it's life and didn't wake the cat up. The rest of the family was away,(coincidence?) the fire was in the shed so the exit would not be blocked. If the owner said he was saved by a cat he'd have a lot more trouble convincing people and the dog would get the blame, but dogs don't usually sleep ion a shelf with a Kerosene lamp How did the fire spread so quickly to the house, so there was 'Just enough time'?
I thought The cat needed defense, because I thought the story was so cute I automatically accepted the story at face value. The owner's trouble might be not convincing the police, but convincing the Insurance Company. They aren't as easy to fool.There was a perfect story, but no witnesses.
There is an old standby in investigation. Let someone think they have gotten away with something, and wait 'till they make a mistake. Put him in a room with the Dog, a Webcam, and a bottle of Whiskey. leave them alone, and see if he congratulates the dog or starts telling the dog how smart his plan was.