Well - I'm on both sides of this fence. I have two indoor only cats and they have never been out, except in a carrier to go to the vet. And what's more - they have absolutely no desire to go out. On the other hand, I also have an outdoor only cat - he is the resident stray that showed up here almost six years ago. I found out he belonged to a neighbor that threw him out along with all the other pets - and his wife. He was neutered when he arrived - never goes far from the house - is very street smart - and absolutely wants no part of being in the house. I realize that he probably won't have as long a life span living outside, but it's his choosing. Since I live in a rural/farm area, there are cats everywhere, but surprisingly not as many roaming as I've seen in some suburban areas. I do have to agree - it's not so much of a problem as dogs roaming since dogs can form packs and be potentially dangerous. In most instances a cat will run from you, whereas the dog could run at you with questionable intentions!