Freedom, or free food, shelter, medicare

Some people think it is cruelty to keep animals in captivities. They say the animals prefer freedom.

Do you think the pets prefer the free food, shelter, and medicare we provide them, or do they prefer freedom (let them roam free outside) ?

I believe most pets much prefer to have free food, shelter, etc. over freedom. They simply have lost the ability to live on their own after we domesticated them for many generations. Even for those who can scavenge food, they don't live long without human care.

Dogs and cats will always come back for food even if you let them go free. Even some birds will return to their cage on their own because there is food in there. Someone had done experiment that he would go to the same spot beside a lake every day to feed (wild) fish. After a while, lots of wild fish would come to that spot right on time for food. They could be at a lot of other places, but it seems they choose to be there.
As animals, food is the single most important thing they want. Even if it means trade some of the freedom for it. That is what I believe. Not to mention they live a lot healthier and longer in captivity, it goes the same for all species of pets.

What is your opinion on house pets, caged birds, fish in aquarium etc.?

i totally agree with you in this post,

my cat is a complete house cat, the only time she steps outside is if the door is left open for a while and she sits on the porch or in the garden and someone is out there with her but the moment you touch or move the door even slightly she runs back inside. iv even left the door open for hours just to see what she would do and she just sits there and looks at all the things that happen but doesnt do anything. also when we are all out she always sits at the top of the stairs like she is waiting for us

so i think that animals do like being kept like this because they feel safe and cared for by their owners and in a way i think they care for their owners too, since they wait for them to get back from what ever they do and just love being near them.