I have no problem with people having house cats as long as they are stimulated as they would be by adventuring outside. It is very distressing to think that your cat maybe hit by a car but...........what percentage of outdoor cats do actually come to a sticky end?
Our little farm cat has free range in or out of the house and has our land (5 acres) to roam on but we regularly see her crossing the busy road infront of our house to hunt in the fields across the road (the grass is always greener...
) and there is nothing that we can do about it. Try to call her back or attempt to stop her and she will just run faster.
We would never give our dogs such free rein but cats are independant little critters
Touch wood.....the majority of cats seem to survive the big outdoors.