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Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
CMV: cats should never be let outdoors unless they’re on a leash and “outdoor” cats are unethical

So I’ve had two cats in my life, both indoor. The first one I grew up with, he was an old sweetheart who lived the be almost seventeen. My current kitty is an absolute gremlin, but very healthy and loved. My neighbors on the other hand, have outdoor cats. At least two or three of them have multiple cats that roam around freely. Now I love petting and hanging out with one of them, she’s a total sweetie, but I still think it’s wrong. 

Here are my issues:
- Outdoor cats are *incredibly* detrimental to local ecosystems. I’ve seen the nicest outdoor cats chase and kill birds, mice, moles, you name it. 
- Outdoor cats can be dangerous. When I was young (3?) a cat came into our yard and scratched me. I hold no ill will towards the cat or cats in general obviously, but most people and kids don’t understand cats’ behavior. They don’t know when they’re going to be nasty, or how to prevent it. Unleashed dogs are dangerous, cats are no different. 
- Someone could take your cat. I almost took my neighbor’s cat to a shelter until I saw her collar and recognized her. Some people will just straight up steal cats too. 
- It’s bad for the cat. My one neighbor had this cat, could’ve been more than three years old, and it was SO sweet. I hung out with that cat all the time, probably more than its owners tbh. It got hit by a cat. I see cats along my road constantly. More than raccoons. Sure you can say “my cat is smart enough to run away” or “you should brake for animals.” Sounds great in theory but these things don’t always work. I’d take hitting a cat over killing someone in a car accident any day. 

These are my main issues with it. I just can’t see any benefit to doing it. Keeping a cat outdoors is irresponsible and just seems to me like an excuse for the owners to not have to properly care for and entertain a cat. I’m all for bringing a cat out on a leash or harness, that’s great! But not leaving them unsupervised. You wouldn’t do it with a dog, why do it with a cat?

I’m not sure I’ll necessary change my view to “outdoor cat good” but I’m willing to hear a valid reason for doing it and change my view that way.

edit: barn cats are a valid reason I forgot about. But in that circumstance they’re away from other people and cars. Still can’t see a benefit of letting cats out in a suburban area.

Another edit: I live in a suburban/urban area for context and this is the area where I have most issue with it. Also they shit in other people’s gardens, which I think is pretty inconsiderate of the owners. If you have a huge amount of property, that’s cool, or a big fence and let the cat out there. I specifically mean when they go into roads/other’s property.
gpt
I grew up on a farm.  We had barn cats.  They wander the farm getting rid of mice.  It's a good thing.  I'll take cats over mice any day.

Mice get into the hay, bite when you move it and make the other animals sick by shitting all over everything.