One of the community cats in our area sleeps under our neighbor's solar panels on their 2-story house during the day, I've watched her walking around and ducking under them. I have no clue how she gets up there. Both that cat and another are regularly on our (1st floor) roof too, so they can sit under the bedroom window and interact with my indoor cat.
On the other hand, years ago one of my indoor cats escaped and climbed onto the roof and just sat there mournfully crying until we figured out where he was and got him down. Heck, the indoor cat I have now got herself stuck on the side of a not-steep hill because the ground cover was too loose and I had to climb up and get her.
I think it's just life experience, and indoor cats aren't the examples to judge the species by... any more than the avg sedentary human is when compared to people who actually exercise as much as we're all supposed to. ;)
On the other hand, years ago one of my indoor cats escaped and climbed onto the roof and just sat there mournfully crying until we figured out where he was and got him down. Heck, the indoor cat I have now got herself stuck on the side of a not-steep hill because the ground cover was too loose and I had to climb up and get her.
I think it's just life experience, and indoor cats aren't the examples to judge the species by... any more than the avg sedentary human is when compared to people who actually exercise as much as we're all supposed to. ;)