I'm UK and all my cats have been indoor outdoor, I personally would not keep mine as soley indoor cats. It is a personal choice though and you do have to really take into consideration where you live (are you on/near a busy road etc).
As for their safety, I have personally never had any of my cats suffer any kind of injury/illness that came as a result of them being outside. I'm sure that is partly due to luck but I also think that when you read things like this thread you can get the impression that these kinds of injury are really common but if you asked how many people have had indoor-outdoor cats who have led long lives and died of unrelated causes you would also get an abundance of replies.
I adore my cats and their health is incredibly important to me, but so is their happiness. I totally agree that cats can lead happy lives indoors but mine love being outside and I can't deny them that. I don't think that letting them roam freely is irresponsible in any way.
Whatever you decide I'm sure they'll be happy and they're lucky to have an owner who is putting so much thought into it!
P.S Mine wear reflective collars when they go out and they are kept in overnight. They also only go out when I am at home.
As for their safety, I have personally never had any of my cats suffer any kind of injury/illness that came as a result of them being outside. I'm sure that is partly due to luck but I also think that when you read things like this thread you can get the impression that these kinds of injury are really common but if you asked how many people have had indoor-outdoor cats who have led long lives and died of unrelated causes you would also get an abundance of replies.
I adore my cats and their health is incredibly important to me, but so is their happiness. I totally agree that cats can lead happy lives indoors but mine love being outside and I can't deny them that. I don't think that letting them roam freely is irresponsible in any way.
Whatever you decide I'm sure they'll be happy and they're lucky to have an owner who is putting so much thought into it!
P.S Mine wear reflective collars when they go out and they are kept in overnight. They also only go out when I am at home.