Well our cats are indoor/outdoor cats. But we are a km away from a country road, so virtually no chance of being run over by a vehicle. We do have coyotes around, and raptors too, and cougars and bobcats etc all which are capable of taking a cat. We have lost cats, at times, through the years. Often when they get older, and not as able to pay attention. It’s a sad day if that happens, and we try to avoid this happening. But it means so much to a cat to be able to explore their wild side, to hunt, to kill mice and chase grasshoppers. It’s great exercise, keeps a cat fit and healthy. Fresh meat is healthy and natural for a cat. Obesity in indoor cats kill as many cats as coyotes do. So, for me, it’s “six of one, half a dozen of the other”.
Our house cats are inside the house at night. They are inside the house if we are away for the day. They are inside until the sun comes up in the morning. But during the day when we are home, they come and go from the house at will. They do “cat things” (the two boys do everything together). One of the cat boys came to us as a feral, and is now a semi civilized cat who enjoys time inside, and in bed. But he is still wise to “nature” and the realities of being a potential victim of a predator. When I garden, he likes to come with me, and keep watch. If he sees something, he grows to warn me. He’s my protector. It’s often a deer he sees, but sometimes a coyote in the distance. He’s alert. He looks after me, and he looks after his dumb little cat buddy too. And the cats get their outside time, their hunting time, lots of exercise so they aren’t fat blobs with health issues. And one day, they will die, as we all do. Of something. This stupid one is here with me now, helping me type this. He will go outside with his buddy later to do cat things.