Used to let the cat out everyday. Even in a blizzard, I'd be like, damn cat are you serious ? "Meah, meah". Okay. There he goes. Snow cat.
Everyday on the sidewalk next to traffic. On the rooftops, down the street at the cat house with other cats. Across the street in the park area. The neighbor has him, his other alias was Anastasia. Told the lady it's a he and how a chinese guy we know had is balls removed. Then she started calling him Indy. I was #1 and she was #2. He was territorial. The King of the block. The other cats weren't like him, though the orange hairy one was fearless.
Friend of mine who at the time lived with his Mom, they got a cat and they never let it out ever. It slipped out the door a few times, but it always came back.
People don't let their pet's go for various reasons. Fear of them getting hurt. Some pets will run at full speed and get lost. Or end up getting ran over. I know a dog that's been picked up miltiple times. The kennel hates seeing the same people over again from what I gather.
Not every pet is like my ex cat. Keeping them indoors and on a leash It's for the animal's safety. They're happy to be at home with their masters, if not then either the animal or the owner is fucked up.