I have a "screened porch" on the back side of my house, and I invested the additional money to buy 1" x 2" fencing wire, which I attached to the INSIDE of the same wooden framework which held the normal "window type screen" on the outside. It isn't really visible from the street, and doesn't bother me, because I know I'm keeping my "babies" safe. This prevents cats from tearing the screen and "escaping" when they climb the screen. (Not sure why they climb it... it gets them nowhere except UP (grin)
That is the closest thing I have to "outside" which my cats are ever exposed to, and interestingly, when I open the door for Tiger to go out on the porch, my bengals will stand at the door and "sniff" but thus far, have not yet "explored". The only problem I have found, is that when Tiger spends much time on "the porch" in summer -- he brings fleas back into the house. Sasquatch (my 14 year old) is horribly allergic to flea bites... so that sometimes causes problems.
I love to have fresh air in the house, and it is nice to open the door on to that porch and let them feel the breeze and watch the birds and squirrels in my back yard -- their chittering at the doorway is sometimes more amusing than watching TV (grin) I've even had squirrels come up to the outside of the screen and chitter at the cats, and it's like they are having conversations
I live on a very busy street. And have neighbors who allow their dogs to roam the neighborhood. I would NEVER allow my cats to go outdoors without a leash or some sort of restraint and CONSTANT immediate supervision.
LaVon
"fancidots"