I know attitudes to cats in Australia are very different. Cat hunts are not uncommon (at least in WA). When our rescue boy here was young we would effectively take him on a walk, without any lead, because he would just follow us for an evening stroll (its quite safe here, no traffic). It was just 1km, and his little legs couldn't quite manage it so we'd have to carry him home after about 750m. Its one of my most happy memories, his tail would puff up to twice its size with excitement and he would bound along, particularly off road. Now he can do the distance, but he doesn't want to be seen with us, typical teenager!
Years ago we left a moggie with my parents with strict instructions not to let him out for a week or two because he wouldn't know where he was and his brother had recently been run over. My parents bought him a lead and harness and attempted the garden exercise routine (large garden). However, the cat was having none of this and took off over the low boundaries, pursued by my father. About an hour later there was a knock on the door. It was the local police 'we have had reports of a middle aged man in a red jumper seen in the back garden of No5 sir, etc etc' My father was still wearing his red jumper....