Is it cruel to let a cat live only outside?

Hi Cat Lovers,

There is a stray cat that has been living in my gated community since it was a kitten (about a year). The family that was feeding it previously moved away and the past month it's been coming around looking for food. I started feeding him/her (I think it's a girl) about a week ago, twice a day, and leaving water and a bed on my back porch. She has been sleeping on the bed at night and sometimes throughout the day. She is the sweetest thing, all black and I named her Toast.  She always comes when I call her.

I am considering taking her to get shots and a spay/neuter and letting her be a porch/outside cat. I can't allow her inside due to landlord rules. I live in Southern California at the beach, so the weather is very mild here.

I'm wondering, is it cruel to let her live outside completely? I've only had indoor cats in the past, so I feel extremely guilty for not letting her inside. Should I be considering this or should I be trying to find her an indoor home? 

Thanks for your help!

Julia 

It would be ideal to find her a home where she can live inside. If that's not possible or you're getting too attached then I think it's ok for her to be outside. My parents live in Northern California and have always had a couple cats that are outside backyard cats only. Just make sure she has shelter, food/water, flea/tick control, vaccines, collar w/ tags, microchip and is spayed. It's not the ideal life for a cat in terms of their health and safety, but it's not a bad way to live either.

I agree with CatLadyVetTech as long as she is spayed and has vaccines,food and shelter. She should be alright. My only worry is, she street smart?

Is there a little cat house you can put out back there? With a small opening so only she (and other small animals) can get inside?