Pearly spent most of her life indoors full time- it's not safe for cats outdoors here, nor is it safe for wildlife. Also, since Pearly, along with her brother Spot and friend Smoky lived in Mom's house, if they were out for the day and wanted to come in later, I wouldn't necessarily be there to let them in. There was always concer especially that Spot could get in a fight with the many visiting neighbour cats, and that any of them might decide to crawl in some inaccessible spot and not want to come out- then get left outside overnight- vulnerable to other cats, coyotes, etc. A couple of years ago we enclosed the unroofed porch in wire so they could safely sit outside. Then when Spot died last winter, Pearly was the only remaining cat in the house. She's no longer spry enough to be a flight risk or a danger to wildlife, so she gets to go outside when one of us is around to keep an eye on her. She's been enjoying the sun on cool days, shade when it was warmer, grass to munch, birds and squirrels to watch the richly scented air! and following me around as I garden, gather/cut firewood etc. She's got to see the limits of the yard and even just out onto the farm (I warned her not to go far- that's Coyotelandia- not that they don't come into the yard as well..) Music is an excerpt from Burlesque by National Sweetheart; YouTube Audio Library