Moved to an apartment with an outdoor cat + follow up question

Hi, my friend just moved out of my house with his 6-7 year old cat who has been an outdoor cat all his life, to an apartment(didn't look for a duplex or anything like that really).  My question is pretty simple, will he(the cat) have any problem knowing which door belongs to my friend?  my friend has moved a few times with him so he knows to keep him indoors for 2-3 weeks to help him adapt, and his cat is pretty smart.  I was just wondering if he's going to be able to tell which door belongs to him.  Its an outdoorish apartment with his apartment door facing a backyard and alley and stuff like that, but on the second floor and there are like 6 doors on his floor, but luckily he is the last one in the row so that should make it a little easier.

im just worried because I've known the cat its whole life and am super attached to it as if it is one of my own, and to be honest, i was wayyy more bummed about the cat leaving than my friend.  his cat liked me more too.  would always want to sit on my chest and get pet and would come into my room.  he basically ignored my friend other then when he wanted to go outside. 

I plan on getting a collar and a tag for him just in case either way.

thanks

ps. spin off question, since it might be better to just ask here then a new thread.  I have my own cat, he's about 2 and a half years old now.  for the past year, he had my friends cat as a friend/company.  they would surprising play together, slept together and ate together even though they are both males and my boy isn't fixed.  Now, the question is, I've noticed that since my friend and his cat moved out, he's been wandering around sorta looking for him, he waits by the glass door for him(my cat is indoor only).  Would getting him a little friend be a good idea?  Or is he just whining and doing stuff normally and I'm convincing myself he's looking for his buddy?

thanks

here are pics of my cat and the black one is my friends





thanks and sorry for the long post.

I don't suppose there is anyway your friend will part with his cat?  That seems the best solution to me - for you to adopt him especially considering the bond you two have and the fact your cat misses his buddy so much..  I really have no experience in the kind of situation you describe but would worry that the apartment being on the second floor might be some difficulty.  I've actually never known anyone who kept an outdoor cat in an apartment.  When I moved to an apartment, I started keeping my cats in.

You say your friend and his cat have lived in apartments before - have they had this kind of 2nd story arrangement before?  If they've managed it before, they should probably manage it now.  Still, it seems very much less than ideal and I really hope your friend will let his cat come live with you, in the best interest of the cat.

They are a cute pair.  I had a similar pairing:  black and orange and have a real soft spot for this combo.

Forgot to mention, yes, I think your cat does miss his buddy and yes, if your friend won't give up his cat, getting a second cat is a completely reasonable option.

My friend has never lived in an apartment before, only houses which is why im so concerned.  He's not reasonable enough to let his cat stay here.  He even admitted it would be better for his cat but he just wants him so he can have him.  if asked why, he will respond like a little kid "just because, hes my cat".  technically yeah, but he never took care of him any more than his cleaning lady did back in his old house.  he literally only cleaned his litter box 1 time in the past 10 months, i did the cleaning and i fed his cat and he knew it, he's just supper stubborn and unreasonable  he's the kind of guy who has a dog(which he also doesn't take care of other than feeding) who LOVES to play and run around and he walks her maybe once every 2 weeks or so, and just for 5-10 mins at a time.  I would feel bad so I would play with her in our backyard every day since he would only play or take her outside when he wanted to smoke a cig.

he's also the kind of guy that if told by multiple people that it would be better for him to keep his cat indoors at all times now that he's in an apartment that he wouldn't listen and would still let him out.  its a pretty shitty situation, so im just trying to make the best of it for now.

Oh, this is sad on so many levels.  I misunderstood and am even more worried than I was before.  This is really NOT a good situation for a cat, at least in my experience.   I think it will be very confusing and the cat may very well try to come looking for you.  Can you get it chipped with your name and contact info?  The collar is a good idea but cats are great at shaking collars - a chip would really be better.  It might take an attempted trip home to you to make your friend see the light.  I hate to think of that poor baby out there facing such a situation.

I'm familiar with this kind of pet owner.  Unfortunately.   Do not even want to get started on how upsetting they can be. 

You are probably right.  Unless you want to destroy your friendship and claim the cat, there probably isn't much you can do except make the most of a really bad situation.

What about the dog?  Is your friend going to finally start taking it on walks or is the dog going to run loose too?

This is just really sad.

yeah its pretty bad. I'm going to ask him if he's chipped and if not for us to take him to get chipped.  im really worried that he might leave to try to find me and i live 15 miles away now.  I literally had a dream last night that he showed up at my door.  and hes the type of cat that would let anybody pick him up and carry him so im worried someone will just take him as well.

as for the dog.  i would like to think hes walking her more now that he can't avoid her or use just letting her out in our backyard as an excuse.  when i went to go see his new place his dog looked pretty bummed and both his dog and cat were excited to see me and both laid on me pretty much the whole time i was there.

im really not sure how to approach this situation any better.  im going to start by asking if hes chipped or not and then bring up the info you've given me and what else i've read online.  ive also told him if he moved to a place that was better for a cat i would totally give him his cat back, since after all it is his cat.  i just really want whats best for him.

I think you're doing everything you can.  And thank heavens you are.  That cat is very lucky he has you in his life - it is a very good thing you're doing right now.  That's a good point about being willing to give the cat back if your friend moved.  It seems he is a little hung up on ownership so if he could continue to view the cat as his, with you just keeping it for him, that might be an approach. 

 I really feel sorry for that dog, too.   I don't suppose you can talk him into chipping the dog as well?    Because I'm willing to be your friend is just opening the door to let the dog go out and do its business.

Has it occurred to your friend that his pets might be picked up by animal control, taken to a shelter and put down?  Would that be better than staying with you?  See. I have you adopting the dog now, too.  Sorry....

Well...My angle is that he being a irresponsible caretaker will probably walk into (if not on) the reeking litter box, dog poo etc. He will be forced to clean up, and after a while of not liking that, will most likely be willing to listen to your Idea of pets staying with you until he moves to another place. And you know he most likely will have moved on. Hopefully pets don't escape. My neighbor had moved about a mile or so away. That darned cat somehow found his way back to the old house several times! Fifteen miles sounds very dangerous to me!

Thanks for your kind words.  His dog luckily is a very very good girl, and she would not run away and does not like to go outside by herself.  I'm not as worried about her, I feel like he's going to start taking better care of her now that he can't take shortcuts.  I'm just super worried about the cat.  Trying to figure out how to re-approach him with the situation.

I can't find anything online about people letting their cat be an outdoor cat while living in an apartment.  worries me even more.

i just talked to him, he agreed to let me go get him microchipped before he starts letting him outside.  theres nothing i can do to stop him from letting him go outside other then maybe the vet talking to him when i go get him chipped but that probably still wouldn't stop him, so at least i can do this.  Im going to put my name and number as the first one to call as well.

im hoping that one day he just realizes that it really would be better for him to just stay here.  at least every time he goes on vacation he will bring him here, and thats every couple months or so.

Here in Germany apartment living is more or less the rule, and plenty of people have indoor/outdoor cats, so distinguishing one apartment from another shouldn't be a problem. Animals go more by scent than sight, anyway.

It's a shame your friend won't leave the cat in his familiar surroundings.

ok that makes me feel a lot better.  he should definitely be able to recognize my friends apartment then. 

thanks

Quick question, I figured it would be better to just ask in here since its sort of a continuation instead of making a whole new thread.  But I was just wondering, when I do get a new kitty friend for Simba, will I need to wait 2-3 weeks before full introduction like I did with my friends cat?  When his cat moved into the house we kept it in his room for 3 weeks before letting it out full time.  I let the cats look at each other and paw each other through a cracked door and they would play under the door which seemed to help a lot.  Only difference now is that I live alone, so I would feel real bad making the cat stay in the room all day and all night by itself for 2-3 weeks when I would just first be getting it.  Or do you think since my cat really seems to want a friend I could do with like a week depending on how things go?

Actually, I think maybe it is worth a whole new thread.   Your title doesn't mention anything about introducing cats - best to have that right up front so people who know about these things will open up your post and chime in. 

I know there are very specific guidelines to introducing cats and that rushing things can cause problems down the road.    I've been lucky.  I usually only had to keep mine separated for a week.  Actually, the first pair I got, I didn't separate at all because I didn't know any better. 

One thing I did find is that the new cat coming in doesn't necessarily mind being alone for awhile.  Depending on how outgoing your new cat is and its past, it might actually prefer that and go off and hide .  For days, if not longer.  The main thing is to provide a warm inviting environment that feels as safe as possible.  A cosy bed and toys, help.  You'll be very busy for awhile since you have to not just welcome and soothe the new arrival, you have to reassure and make a  fuss over Simba.

Must say, I was greatly relieved at knowing your friends cat will be chipped and that outdoor apartment cats can manage and ID their home okay.  I still would worry about animal control swooping in but you've done what you can there. 

Ah that makes sense that it would want some alone time.  Probably stressed from what has happened to it.   thanks for the help.

ill make a new thread once i get the new kitty.