The welfare implications of keeping cats indoors versus allowing outdoor access involve tradeoffs between safety from traffic and predation and the behavioral satisfaction of natural exploration and hunting.
Cat welfare involves genuine tradeoffs that have no universal right answer. Outdoor access provides stimulation and behavioral satisfaction but exposes cats to lethal risks. Indoor confinement eliminates these risks but may frustrate behavioral needs in cats with high predation drive. Individual assessment of each cat history, temperament, and environment — combined with creative solutions like catios and structured outdoor time — provides better welfare outcomes than rigid rules.