Because of their independence and the inability to be trained an owner is not responsible for damage a cat does if and when he or she goes off the premises. Same if a speeding car runs over your cat in front of the house. No "damages" and no liability because essentially the law looks at cats as if they are wild -no matter how much love and companionship you feel from them they are still seen-with good reason-to be not too far removed from their origin.

But that doesn't remove the pain from losing a cat. We've lost them before when they simply wandered off in the night and never came back. Especially males who I think I know what they were looking for. I've never known of a cat who obeyed. Like "come here cat" -just as likely to turn and walk away. Funny how dogs over the years have become domesticated and are far removed from their origin. But cats decided long ago they were not going to move in that direction-they perfectly well liked being wild.