Decisions about outdoor access for cats involve genuine welfare trade-offs that require thoughtful assessment of individual cat needs and local hazards.
The outdoor access debate cannot be resolved by a universal rule. An anxious, indoor-adapted cat in an enriched environment may be safer and happier indoors than a confident cat deprived of outdoor stimulation. The welfare optimum involves an honest assessment of individual risk factors and, where outdoor access is hazardous, a genuine commitment to providing indoor enrichment that meets the cat's behavioural needs.