Cats really do live much longer (statistically speaking) when they live a strictly indoor life. Our indoor-only cats usually live at least to their mid-teens. And they can be amazingly adaptable, in terms of keeping a former outside cat inside all the time. Years ago we brought our wonderful Manx cat, Sam Gamgeepuss (now departed to Kitty Heaven, and seriously lamented by his family) indoors from a former outdoor-only career. He was some kinda tough character . . . Samwise hadn’t been neutered, and so had a neck like a bull, and crenellated ears. I learned not to play with him barehanded after giving him catnip. Getting whacked by his hard paw was like getting smacked with a furry ruler. He was TOUGH cat. And . . . we converted him to an indoor-only kitty (after getting him neutered) and he never asked to go outside. Not once. He was happy to be inside and that was that.
The point of this discourse is that perhaps your outdoor kitty could likewise be converted to an indoor-only kitty. Worth a try!
Well, if I woke up and found aliens had stolen my nutsack, I wouldn’t go out anymore either.