Rather than let your cat outside unsupervised, it’s far better to let your cat outside in a safe, controlled environment. For many people, that means walking a cat on a leash.
Of course, cats don’t take readily to leashes like dogs, so start training your cat inside the comfort and safety of your home. Then start by going outside in a safe, secluded area to get your cat familiar to walking outside on a leash.
The sooner you start training your cat to walk on a leash, the sooner your cat will learn that walking outside can be fun.