How close is too close?

[Pipstelle]

We are moving to a new house that is down a quiet road but within 300 meters of a fast A road with fairly heavy traffic bombing along at 50-70mph. A field separates the house from the road. Dcat has always been an outdoor cat but we've never lived so close to a major road. Should she become an indoor cat or will she stay well away? In the other direction is nothing but countryside.

[lljkk]

Bombing along sounds noisy, the noise would probably put her off going that way.
I guess I would chance it, but I don't have to live with your consequences.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I think that’s too close. Our cat died in our cul de sac on the edge of the estate, it’s quiet here but he still got hit.

You can cat proof a garden using protectapet or protect a puss. It would have cost me £400 or so and I’d still have my boy.

[Northernlurker]

Too close. I wouldn't move there tbh if cat safety was the only concern. Cats can't judge the speed. If she gets confused or chased she's just going to shoot across.

[Northernlurker]

Oh and it's not fair to keep her indoors when she's used to going outside

[Pipstelle]

The garden is nearly an acre so cat proofing the whole thing isn't an option. Would some sort of outside pen work? I honestly don't think she roams that far. She only goes out for brief periods of time a few times a day. You can only faint hear the road noise from the garden but perhaps she will be able to hear it better and it will put her off? Arg. I'm so worried about her.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Yes you can buy pens or build them if your handy. You can put little shelves on them for climbing on & planters of catnip.

A handyman could build one if you designed it.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Catio