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You may decide you do not want to let your cat roam freely, for any of the considerations listed here or for other reasons.

One survey found that over 50 per cent of outdoor cats have a serious accident at some time; another found that 42 per cent of cat fatalities were caused by road-traffic accidents.

The outdoors may be a cat's natural habitat, but cats evolved in the spare surroundings of North Africa, not today's urban jungles.

You may also find legal limitations imposed upon you; in some places local laws restrict the free movement of cats. Usually these laws are implemented to protect local bird or other wildlife populations.

If there are any such considerations where you live, but you still want your cat to have access to the outdoors, be creative with large enclosures for patios or balconies.

Patios are easy to enclose, using wooden fencing and mesh for cover Climbers quickly make such a cover attractive, and your cat can bask safely.