Allowing cats outdoor access involves welfare trade-offs between the enrichment of outdoor life and the significant risks of traffic injury, predation, and infectious disease.
The welfare trade-off between indoor safety and outdoor enrichment is genuine and complex. Cats deprived of outdoor access in unenriched environments suffer welfare costs from boredom and frustration of natural behaviours. However, outdoor access carries substantial risks of sudden traumatic death or serious injury, particularly near busy roads. Evidence-based risk mitigation including garden enclosures, walking on harness, and curfews during peak traffic periods can provide outdoor enrichment while substantially reducing risks.