That's exactly how wild animals act. They rather be outdoors doing their normal instincts away from humans and they especially do not want to be cooped up inside in an apartment.

Cats are definitely much happier living in a barn setting or house.

Keeping them inside an apartment never to experience the outdoors is not low maintenance, it's sad for the cat. Cats need more attention inside in an apartment because there's nothing else for them to do.

They are still very much wild because we never bred them they way be bred dogs.

Watch the show my cat from hell and you will see that cats are not low maintenance at all. It's the owners who buy a cat and except the cat to be happy because they have this thing in their head that cats don't need anything but food and a litter box.