Road traffic is the leading cause of traumatic death in outdoor cats, and managing outdoor access through safer alternatives dramatically reduces individual cat welfare harm from vehicle collisions.
Cats killed by vehicles die from traumatic injuries that may not be immediately fatal, potentially causing suffering before death. The scale of road mortality across the outdoor cat population represents an enormous preventable welfare burden. The most impactful welfare interventions combine neutering to reduce roaming, curfews during high-traffic periods, and secure garden fencing or catio enclosures that provide outdoor enrichment while eliminating the primary cause of traumatic cat death. These approaches address both cat welfare and the wildlife impact of free-roaming outdoor cats simultaneously.