Road traffic accidents are the leading cause of death in cats under 5 years in the UK, killing an estimated 230,000 cats per year. Outdoor access has significant welfare benefits, but traffic risk requires active mitigation strategies.
Road traffic injuries cause acute traumatic suffering including internal bleeding, broken limbs, spinal injuries, and head trauma. Many cats injured on roads are not immediately found and suffer for hours before death or discovery. Keeping cats indoors entirely avoids road risk but can cause welfare compromise through boredom and frustration in cats with high outdoor motivation. The optimal solution varies by individual cat and environment.