I think all animals deserve to breathe some fresh air. I know the majority of cats are indoor/outdoor kitties, but after having mine vanish overnight a few months ago and finding a stray I was feeding on the side of the road one morning deceased, and after the Bengal that was visiting my house got into a horrific cat fight and was bleeding from the eyes and had deep puncture wounds on his leg, I decided the Bengal was going to have to stay indoors. He was not happy, so we built a huge enclosure for him, which he enjoys. We also take walks with a harness and leash. He is not 100% happy, but at least I know the cat he fought with all the time cannot get to him any longer. There are just a lot of things that can happen to a kitty who is outside unsupervised. I've known cats who spent most of their time outdoors and lived to be 15 years old. That's rare. I'm not taking any more chances.
It's a personal decision, but there is nothing more heart wrenching when your kitty doesn't return home and you have no idea where they are or what may have happened to them. For peace of mind, I'd rather they be on the other end of a 10' leash or in a protective enclosure they cannot escape from, yet still enjoy the fresh air and watch the birds.
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