Yes, I understand many kitties can't go outside because it's just too
dangerous for them.

Big Mama loves to go outside. When I go near the door, she'll run to
the door to go out.
True, she loves watching things, like moths, spiders, birds, squirrels,
ground hogs, skunks, deer, raccoons, other cats and even people. But
she never goes near them, shes afraid of them.....she just likes to
watch them.
Much like some people who sit on their porch, watch the traffic go by
and make small talk.

95% of the time she spends outside is spent on the 2nd story deck where
she
has all her living necessities. She'll only leave the deck for her
bathroom dig or a short distance walk, run or tree scratch, with the
occassional visit to the neighbors when she sees them available for
petting exercises.

In the winter she'll stay inside 90% of the time, as it's just too cold
out most times.
In the fall and spring, her inside time is about 25-40%.
In the summer it's about 10%, with the occassional time spent in the
air conditioning to cool off.
If it's exceptionally cold out, she'll just make a bathroom run and
come right back inside.

I don't have a litter-box inside, and she let me know she wanted to go
outside to use the bathroom once. But I was SO tired that day, I
couldn't get up right away. So she used the bathroom inside to
pee...but she did it in the shower area...just where she should have.
I praised her for her good work, so she knows she did good.
Other than that one time, shes never went to the bathroom inside, ever.

Most times I leave it up to her to decide whether she goes out or comes
in, with exceptions of course.....I don't like being a full-time
doorman.

Where I live, it really is just about the closest thing a cat can have
to paradise as far as being able to go outside and roaming around
safely. All the neighbors know her. No roads or dangerous obsticles.
Only 1 overly-friendly protective dog that she slapped once to let him
know whos boss.
Other than that, she lives in paradise.