I had an outdoor cat growing up that lived to be 18. Spent about 1/2 his time outdoors and 1/2 his time indoors. He occasionally would bring back live mice or b

I had an outdoor cat growing up that lived to be 18. Spent about 1/2 his time outdoors and 1/2 his time indoors. He occasionally would bring back live mice or baby rabbits. So although he was self-sufficient in that aspect, when he was inside he was the most affectionate cat imaginable. He'd come and nuzzle his head into you and lay on your lap or chest until you petted him. He was never super affectionate with the dogs, but he put up with them. Cats are very complicated. Once in his old age he didn't return for about a week; we thought he had died. We put up posters for him around the neighborhood-it turns out that a family who lived in a house several streets away had "adopted" him (this was before RFID chipping). I still miss him.