I am sorry to hear about your lost cat. Outside cats are more susceptible to tragic events. I know litter boxes are a lot of trouble but I got one when we moved to the city.
Absolutely. We live on the edge of a very rural area in So. Cal. and had never let our cats (2) go outside. They have both passed on now (old age) but I still see neighborhood posters from time to time regarding missing kitties. There are still many coyotes and mountain lions in the area and it just makes me sick thinking about what has happened to these little friends.
We now have a 60 pound Bull Dog.....and we won't let her out of the back yard unless we're with her.....on a leash. I'm sure she would put up a good fight....but whether she would come out on top is questionable.
And....she's chipped....and I'm armed.
We kept her inside for the first two years but she started running out the door with the dog and older cat. Eventually we just let her outside for two hours a day. She would come running out of the woods whenever I called her name. I just hope she doesn’t suffer.