I think it really depends on where you live on whether or not to let cats
outside.  My parents live in an area where it is pretty secluded and not many
cars come and go and growing up there, all of our animals were indoor/outdoor.
One dog, Tabitha, was killed by a car when I was very young, but out cat
lived to be 21.  Their cat now, my cat from college actually, is also an
indoor/outdoor cat and is the happiest cat I think I have ever seen.  He just
has so much freedom.  That is actually why I left him with my parents when I
moved out years ago.  I could not stick this guy in a three room apartment
when he is used to a huge house and being able to go outside.  I have two
more cats now and I live in the city, so they will never go outside as long
as I live here.  If I ever move to a more secluded place, which I would love,
I would allow them out, although I think only one of my cats would go outside
by choice.  The other is too attached to my bed but I can tell that my other
guy would be a great outdoor cat and sometimes I feel like he is so bored
being inside all of the time.

Sure, there are horrible things that can happen to cats when they are outside
but there are also horrible things that could happen to you when you leave
the house, but do you keep yourself locked inside all day in fear of what may
happen?  Think how miserable you would be.  Like I said, I very much believe
in letting cats outdoors ONLY if you live in an area that allows this, i.e.,
not many cars or too close to a city.

All in all, you have to do what you are comfortable with.  If you cats have
never been outdoors, then they really cannot miss something they have never
had.

Agreed...where you live can make a difference.  In the country where a cat
has a place to hide from predators....like the hawk that got my friends
kitten, maybe it's ok.  I was speaking as a city girl.  My friend lives in
the suburbs where there's nowhere for her cats to hide if they're being
persued.  And people can be mean to cats...so a secluded area away from
people would be great for them.   I can see not cooping your cat up in a 3
room apt. when they're used to roaming...that would be a difficult change for
them to make.  Leaving them where they were happy was an unselfish choice..
I commend you for doing it.

There are arguments on both sides of the
 issue....Indoor cats, or outdoor cats.....Mine have always been outdoor,
but then, I have never raised one from kittenhood. I have always gotten cats
who just wandered onto my property from wherever, so they were already
outdoor cats, and it would have been hard to get them used to just living
indoors.
   Outdoor cats certainly do face dangers that indoor cats are protected
from.....One of mine almost was killed or badly hurt by a large bird of prey
too.....And from time to time, I have had cats disappear....Probably run
down by cars. But life is like that.....There are no guarantees.....I could
drop dead from an aneurysm in the brain at any time. We can only live for
the moment, and enjoy life while we have it. If your cats are happy living
indoors, and you are willing to take the extra time and effort to make them
do that, well then more power to you....I wouldn't want to change that at
all. But just realize that not everyone can, or would, do that with all
their animals. Right now, I live on a dead end street, way out on the edge
of town....There is a huge Christmas tree farm behind me, so my cats spend
many happy hours far from automobiles, and only rarely have to worry about
any predatory animals. As far as I know, they were all raised as outdoor
cats, and they have three cat doors leading into the house that they can use
at any hour of the day or night. It isn't perfect, but what situation is
perfect?