Should cats be allowed outside to play?

It wasn't because of what you said, it is good that you care about the welfare of animals and don't want them to experience suffering or distress. I found Roberts reply upsetting but don't want to get into a thing where I reply and get an even more upsetting reply. I knew that the invisible fence idea would be controversial and that a lot of people think they cause distress and suffering, so I wish I had not mentioned it as it's too big a debate to get embroiled in and people have strong opinions about it. It definitely wan't intended to be the main part of my post, which was more about the daily deposits of cat poo in our garden from neighbouring cats that has prevented us from being able to use and enjoy it as we liked, whilst our neighbours get to enjoy their cats without having to deal with all the pooing they do! My post was as well about the distress of regularly witnessing our regular feathered friends, who I grew to love through observation and interaction over the years, being killed. Song birds are especially vulnerable as there are a few days after fledgling when they are unable to fly, but many birds are ground feeders and may not see or hear a cat laying in wait or creeping up on them in dense undergrowth when they are busy digging or rummaging about. Some cats are also very agile and leaping and running up trees. Please believe me that I wouldn't want to inflict distress or suffering on any sentient being and I care a lot about not causing harm. I too thought thought the buzz/beep collars were very cruel but I have more recently observed one in action on a neighbours dog (I am someone extremely sensitive to the body language of animals) and it has changed my perspective on them somewhat. It is very clear however to see that immense suffering and distress caused to birds when they or their partners or children are injured or killed by cats, but people seem to find wild birds suffering or being distressed acceptable as it is "natural". I've seen things like this https://www.catfence.co.uk/ which I thought might be a good idea so that people's cats could enjoy the freedom of being outside without getting run over or locked in sheds or attacked by other cats, and people without cats could enjoy their gardens without finding cat poo everywhere and having to watch birds being attacked and killed. I think if people started to keep pet lions and tigers that were allowed out to play and could leap over garden fences to kill the neighbours pets and children as a natural expression of their interests, there would be an outcry...!! But people prioritise the lives and welfare of humans and their pets over the lives of wild animals and animals bred for food.

'Studies estimate domestic cats kill between 160-275 million animals annually, including 40-70 million birds.'

https://www.arkwildlife.co.uk/blogs/articles/how-to-stop-cats-killing-wildlife

The BVA’s position on aversive training methods. Lack of adequate peer reviewed resources for electronic containment means this is a bare minimum for now.

https://www.bva.co.uk/media/1156/full-bva-policy-position-on-the-use-of-aversive-training-devices-in-dogs-and-cats.pdf

I haven't read all the replies but cats are the scourge of wildlife and for that reason, I decided before my present cat moved in of her own choice, that I would never have a cat again.

They are beautiful assassins.

It's something that Chris Packham has spoken about.

If they can tolerate it a collar with a bell is a good idea.  I've had cats nearly choke themselves trying to get the collar off though.

I don't like a cat to be indoors unless they are bred to be (eg. ragdoll) or they choose to do so.

They are natural hunters and very intelligent and won't get the stimulation they need.

We let our cats out to play. Occasionally they like to murder an animal, usually a bird, and feast on its plump, juicy flesh. Then they come back in with an appetite for biscuits and cat meat. They’re very happy cats, keeping them in is a bit cruel i feel. 

I didn’t think I was arguing.

I’m sorry that you have taken it that way. 

Alexa said:

Maybe I'm odd, but I hate to coop up any animals

You are not odd. Rather you care about the welfare of animals that have often been bred for human companionship or pleasure. 

You’re actually on the ball when it comes to animals such as dogs. My dogs have access to the garden when they want, but I also give them choices when it comes to walks and activities. They were trained using a ‘hands off approach’ with ‘rewards’ of food treats and toy play (ball, furry teddy etc.) Obviously they aren’t totally free, but they happily choose to do activities such as searching a car for pretend explosives and tracking people for fun. They are happiest when they are kept busy but enjoy sprawling out on the sofa with me in the evenings. 

Declawing cats is cruel. Too many people expect cats and dogs to adapt to an environment that isn’t suitable for them. We should be adapting to the needs of cats and dogs, not the other way round.

I can't seem to choose a username said:

GPS electric buzz or beep collars that could be programmed to "invisible" fences, such as they have been trialling with some cattle ) that would keep the cats firmly contained in the garden of the person who it belongs to

That is not recommended. Using things like electric buzz or beep collars would cause immense distress and suffering to a cat. 

I don’t have a cat but I’m interested in animal welfare. 

There are some studies which suggest cats do better outside. 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/fellow-creatures/202607/outdoor-access-may-benefit-cats-study-shows

For companion animal welfare and care this site has some free information. Zazie Todd’s work is widely accepted by animal behaviour experts around the world. I have her book ‘Wag’, The Science of Making your Dog Happy and I know her book ‘Purr’, The Science of  Making your Cat Happy has been widely accepted by leading animal experts. Unfortunately the site has some advertisements.

https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/p/home.html

Birds can fly, cats can't.  If they're dumb enough to get caught by a cat, tough. 

That's so sad. Yes, I've had problems, too, with visiting cats and I'd prefer them to stick to their own gardens, if only a safe way could be found. 

Also, birds that get scratched but not killed by cats get infected by bacteria on the cats claws and die a slow death, which can take several days, even from just a tiny scratch, and that is horrible to watch too. Just because birds are wild animals, it doesn't mean they enjoy being killed or being ill, they are sentient individual creatures all with their own distinct characters, behaviours, preferences, habits, quirks and routines, and they very much experience fear. terror and pain and they very much want to live. The lives of wild birds are as valuable as ours and as valuable as peoples pet cats, but people seem to overlook them sometimes as if they were not individuals each with their own distinct life.

Deleted as I don't like arguments, sorry!

TheCatWoman said:

I hate it when people say all dogs should be on leads all the times, they need to run and play and have a good sniff too.

If a dog is properly trained, it should be safe to walk free in most places if it obeys the owners commands. 

It's one thing if they're not safe outside like your friends cats, I think she's done a great job by the sounds of it. I don't like the idea of declawing cats either or even clipping thier claws, they shoould be able to take care of the length of thier claws themselves.

I hate it when people say all dogs should be on leads all the times, they need to run and play and have a good sniff too.

I don't really see a great issue with the being a "threat" to wildlife. It is the natural instinct of a cat to kill mice etc. The same as it is for many wild animals. I'm not sure why that is seen differently because it is a pet. I don't think animals should just be cooped up in houses.

I no longer have cats but I'd hate to keep one cooped up indoors. When I had them, I put cat doors in to enable them to come and go as they pleased and one of the reasons I don't have one now is that I live in a new-build with double glazing and composite doors that don't allow for cat doors. I know some people declaw cats to keep them indoors and the idea makes me flinch. Surely, if we have to deform animals for our pleasure, we have no right to keep them. Having said that, one of my friends doesn't let her rescue/FIV cats roam freely, but she built an enormous "catio" cage that runs all the way along the outside of her house and is filled with ramps, different levels and toys to keep them entertained. If I were to keep cats indoors, that's how I'd do it. 

Maybe I'm odd, but I hate to coop up any animals. When I kept fish, I dug an enormous pond and ensured I never stocked it above the level that gave them plenty of room. I won't keep anything in a cage.

Cats don't damage the bird population. In any case, not all cats catch birds (none of my four did) and many don't catch rodents, either. 

I'm quite happy for my cats to catch rodents, I once had an invasion of rats in my kitchen, that all stopped when I got a new young cat, we did teach him not to catch birds. He'd come to us for approval on what he'd hunted, we swapped rodents for cat treats and told him off if he caught a bird, he soon stopped doing that. When he caught a rabbit, we were unsure what to do, but my greyhounds weren't, they ruffled his fur and wagged at him, so any rabbit he caught would be taken straight to the dogs.

I don't like the idea of house cats, they need the freedom to roam

Unless a cat is really an indoor cat, then it should be free to go and play outdoors.

The biggest threats to wildlife are not cats but people.