wild v domestic
I live in a rural area and my cats go outside when they want. Yes, they run risks, but it is their choice and they seem to enjoy it. (All of them are neutered or spayed. By the way, some birds are pests.) The cats definitely keep the local rodents under control.
I have a couple of cats who are not allowed inside because they refuse to use a litter box. If outside was not an option, those cats would be put down because I am not living in cat urine/feces.
We love all our cats and are always heartbroken to lose one. But we love them enough to let them be cats. We currently care for nine cats, only one of which we asked for. The rest all showed up as abandoned kittens-dumped by the side of the road. Over the 20 years we've lived here, we have only "lost" one cat (out of 14). The rest all died of old age, well over 17 years old.
Most dogs are a good deal bigger than cats. They require fence and outside play time with their owners. They also run in packs, cats do not, and I have yet to hear a story about a vicious house cat killing someone. Therefore, their requirements are different from dogs'.
I will agree that not all environments are suitable for allowing cats out to roam. High rise city apartments for one. Small yards bounded by high traffic roads is another. But don't imagine those house-bound cats enjoy a full-active life! And, please, stop condemning those of us who are able to allow our cats outside.
If your idea of protecting what you love is to imprison it, I would hate to be your child or spouse! Or pet for that matter.
