Reddit mentions of Pounce Cat Treats, Moist Seafood Medley Flavor, 6.5 Ounce (Pack Of 5)

My cats were originally a litter of stray kittens I took in, and though I tried to make them indoor only, they love being outside and I gave in. 6 years later, I'm happy to say I don't regret my decision (so far)


pros:

-they don't scratch on furniture because they get their scratching done outside on trees and in the yard.
-they get more exercise being outdoors, less likely to be overweight
-less litter box usage, if any


cons:
-a lot of scary things out there; other cats, dogs, wild animals, cars, owls, snakes, people, poisonous plants/contaminants, bad weather
-fleas/parasites
-all of my kitties' injuries and subsequent vet visits have been from outdoor causes (scrapes that end up getting infected or hurt paws from climbing things)
-not always knowing where your kitty is/possibly getting lost or running away or being picked up by someone!


The best compromise I've found is
*cat collar with ID/phone number. prepare to replace it fairly often. I buy a pack of inexpensive easy-release cat collars from amazon and get cheap tags made at wal-mart.
*teach them to respond to treats/sounds. since my cats first started going out, i trained them to come with me when they hear the sound of treats shaking around in a treat container (like this one), but I use high quality treats like these for best results. While your kitty is inside, shake the container and reward them when they come to you. Keep this up, move to doing so outdoors, and ideally, if your cat is out and about and hears you calling / shaking the container, they will come right away!