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it depends on the cat. My sister flipped when she found out we let the cat she dumped on us outside and he has a tendency to be gone for days. But he's our cat now and it really solves him cranky problems. In my opinion it is better to have a happy cat live for a few years than a depressed cat live for 20 years. If they want to be outside let them. We do make him come in when a storm or freeze is coming but other than that we let him do his thing. Marley on the other hand is declawed. We let him out only when we are outside and make him come in afterwards, he likes to go on walks with me. He is happy indoors so long as he gets some sun once and a while.

My opinion exactly. My cats would have been miserable indoor cats. They've gotten in their share of scrapes over the years, but that's part of life. They're indoor/outdoor now, so they can come in and lounge around the house when they want to (and in the winter, they often want to), but they can go outside and be wild hunters when they want to (in the summer, they often want to).
The only cat we had who would disappear for days was our big orange tabby, and that was his way of "punishing" us if we would leave on vacation or something. Someone would come by to feed the cats, of course, but he was mad that we were gone, so he wouldn't show his face for 3 or 4 days after we got back. We knew he was around, though, because he would come in at night to eat and we'd hear him, plus the cat food would be gone.

Maybe it's because I grew up in a rural area, but the idea that it's "cruel" to let cats outside had never been brought up. Cats lived in and out. We kept them inside as kittens until they got big enough to fend for themselves, and so that the house would be established as "home", but after that, they can come and go as they please.

Marx is now permanently outdoor. I told hubby its the only way we can keep him, he aggressively attacked me for no reason. I don't want that to happen to froggy. Violent animals and animals that don't know where their poop goes are the only ones I can't tolerate.

There are circumstances that dictate that certain animals should be one or the other. Froggymama's reasons for keeping her cat outdoors, because she's worried that he'll hurt her son, are certainly valid. I'm thinking about adopting an FIV+ cat from the humane society, and that cat would have to remain indoors because of risk of infecting another cat, should they get into a fight, and the increased risk of exposure since they are immune-compromised. Because I live in an upper story apartment in the middle of town, indoor/outdoor would also be... challenging to coordinate.

RosesFallingLikeRain - as a matter of fact, I do think you're a hypocrit for petitioning that all cats be kept inside while saying it's healthiest for them to be indoor/outdoor. The best method of keeping their pets should be at the owner's discretion. Leash laws for dogs are for primarily put in place for the safety of people, not for the safety of the dogs (though it certainly does promote safe and responsible dog ownership as well).

I realize that I'm bringing in information from another thread, but I believe it is relevant to the current discussion.
In your suggested legislation for not allowing free-roaming cats in your area (which, I understand, is unsafe for free-roaming animals) how would animal control identify the owners of cats? I know very few people who keep collars and licenses and their cats, and, at least in the United States, there is no required licensing for cats. We made the decision NOT to collar our cats who live part time outdoors because we decided that the collar was more dangerous to their health, since they're climbing trees, running through the woods, and terrorizing small woodland creatures on a daily basis. The chance that a collar would get caught on something and strangle them is pretty high. The cats aren't heavy enough to break a safety-release clasp (and my cats are pretty darn big. Jazz is pushing 18lbs. Cider was 25lbs. Bug is around 15lbs. Not fat. Just BIG cats). My dog's collar had a safety release clasp, so that if she were to get caught on something, the collar would break free rather than strangle her. We tried to put a collar with a bell on Bug when he started bringing birds into the house on a regular basis, but it took him a grand total of 5 days to figure out how to ditch the collar somewhere that we never were able to find it. All of our animals also had severe reactions to flea collars (which seems odd, I know, but it's true)
So, since you are suggesting that all free-roaming cats in your area be impounded and the owners be fined, how are you proposing the owners be identified?
I am NOT trying to pick a fight with you, although I will admit to vehemently disagreeing with you, I am sincerely curious as to how you intend your proposed legislation be enforced.

Sora I love you for mentioning that your cat who fights a lot is happy. Humans have a strange tendency to project our psyche on animals. A human who fights a lot is not a happy person. A cat who fights a lot is rather happy. It usually means so form of dominance and more territory. The most dominate male on my in laws land is a 5 lb neutered Manx mix named Fido and if he didn't come to it he'd be dubbed Napoleon. The only other male is his litter mate who clearly has a different father as he has Siamese markings and is nearly 30 lb of pure feline muscle. I can tell you Fido is a very happy cat.

Aria I totally agree with you and I think you should get the FIV+ cat. I bet it would make a great companion and most people don't want a sick animal. Here animals must be registered and have ID from cats to cows. You don't have to have a collar and tag but if you don't you have to have a microchip or tattoo and it has to be registered. If the city catches an unregistered animal (though they don't bother with cats unless its hurt or a threat) you can't get it back until you register it. Marx used to have a collar but he lost it, he now has a very clear ring of thin fur. As far as the flea collars go it is most likely due to an allergy or sensitivity to the chemicals, they aren't effect anyways.

What do you do about the overcrowding in shelters that occurs because people have to keep their cats indoors? Think about it I spend maybe max $10/ month on my cats. If was hit with a $50 fee I'd say bye bye kitty cat I'm sorry but the powers that be are a bunch of dicks. If the cat is too stupid to not know to stay out of the road then maybe it deserves the fate. I live in viewing distance of the highway and remarkably my cats have never been hit by cars thats because their brains function properly. Big thing moving towards them at high speeds? better get out if its way. Then there are the strays that get caught and no one wants. Sure you may keep a few cats from getting hurt but in the long run you kill way more.

All this of course is assuming you can get animal control to enforce the law. I know the animal control officer that runs my neighborhood. I asked her "if someone told you that it was illegal to let cats outside what would you do?" He response was "aside from a strong desire to kill the b*****d that made my job impossible, I'd ignore the cats and say they were uncatchable. Why bother if its not hurting anyone?" And this isn't some lazy person who hates their job. She loves what she does, she hates wrangling cats, no animal control officer enjoys wrangling cats. Just watch an episode of Animal cops where they have to go to a cat hoarder. Everyone dreads the work, they do it because the cats are dying and in appalling conditions. But for something where the majority of the population sees it has normal and okay? You are going to have a hard time getting the law enforced if you can get it passed.

My cat is indoor-outdoor. She has a harness that she can't get out of, and a plastic-coated wire that's designed for puppies-toy breed sized dogs is what she's attached to. Our neighborhood is quite safe, and she's far enough away from the road that she won't get hit, and she's also far enough away from the sidewalk that she won't get kicked by anyone going through who dislikes cats (coming onto the property is trespassing, so I can get them arrested and make them pay any vet bills if it's needed ;P). She's also close enough to the house that we'll be able to hear if she gets in a fight, as well as if she gets tangled on anything.