Hi- I was a veterinary technician for 11 years, so I thought I'd put my point of view out here. I saw many, many cats hit by cars come into my clinic (probably thousands) and sadly most of them died. Cats that stay indoors simply don't get hit by cars, get attacked by dogs, coyotes, racoons, other cats, or evil people. the best way to keep your cat healthy and alive for a long time is to keep it inside, day and night. There are those people that think it is cruel or unnatural to keep a cat inside, but what is natural about having to put your beloved pet to sleep while it is still a kitten because it was chasing a butterfly across the street? And what is so cruel about keeping a pet indoors where it is safe from predators, and harsh weather and cars? My cats never have abscesses from fighting, catch diseases from other cats, nor do they get hit by cars. My friend's cat has beeen trapped and taken to the pound by a neighbor, has had many abscess from fights, and was nearly killed when she crawled into another neighbors car with an open window and he tried to let shoo her out in a parking lot. (luckliy for her, she hid under the seat until he returned home and then escaped!) Other cats of hers were eaten by coyotes or killed by cars. Besides the wild dangers and cars, there ARE evil people out there, and if your cat is outside, it is vulnerable. I can tell you horrific stories of people setting kittens on fire, drowning them, shooting them with all kinds of guns and arrows, poisonings. (all true, I have seen them!) All of this and more can be avoided by simply keeping cats inside. I am sorry to say that it is ignorant as well as irresponsible to let cats outside. This is not even going into the aspect of all the wildlife they kill. (My friend's cat kills about a bird a day in the summer, one time an endangered species.) If all of this still seems "cruel" or "unnatural"- then go ahead and let your cats outside..You will keep the local veterinarians in business. Just don't cry too much when your cat disappears.-KH