Gary M.
2 weeks ago
They are likely scared and hiding behind bushes or in a wooded area. Go out at night with a flashlight that might reflect against their eyes and call them gently.
Beyond that, create scent trails on the ground leading to your home (or to a trap, ideally monitored with a trail cam, so you can respond quickly when the cat is in the trap). I was able to recover an elusive kitten that had gotten outside after three weeks with scent trails.
Get a towel and rub it with your dirty laundry, blankets, socks, or anything else with the scent of home. (Do not use kitty litter.)
Tie a rope to the towel and drag the towel from the areas where you think the cat might be, creating scent trails leading to your house (or the trap). You won’t smell the scent on the towel or the ground, but the cat will.
(If you use a trap, load it with a little cat food, enough to attract the cat from the trail that leads up to it. Rely on the scent trails to get your cat to the trap.)
Rain and snow will wash away the scent trails, so you’ll have to drag again afterwards. Also, it might help to renew the trails every couple days.
Important:
. Never leave a trap unattended, always keep an eye on it, checking it every 1/2 hour in person or with a trail cam. It should be positioned close to where the cat escaped.
. Trail cam photos and videos are marked with time stamps, helpful to know if and when the cat shows up but doesn’t go into the trap.
. Post flyers in the area with a picture of your cat and contact information.
. Even if you don’t have a trap or a trail cam, scent trails leading to your home can work.
This has worked for me and many others. Most helpful for indoor cats who don’t know where “home” is. Dan Montuori developed the method and has a video demonstration on his FB page. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/n7nkfgmMToi4cMRz
(Link given is non-commercial. Dan does not charge for advice or services, given in memory of his beloved dog, Stella.)
