Free-roaming and stray cats face traffic, fight-borne infection, poisoning, and human harm, and statistics consistently show much shorter outdoor life expectancies.
Indoors, the leading causes shift from accidents to manageable chronic disease, and with vaccines, parasite control, and annual exams, fifteen-plus years is common.
The trade-off is less activity and stimulation, offset with vertical space, hunting play, and foraging enrichment to prevent obesity and behavior problems.
Middle grounds like enclosed catios and harness walks have prerequisites, but the principle is a controlled environment; unguarded free roaming is the hardest risk to manage.
