Richard H.
10 months ago
Try taking a look at something like https://www.missinganimalresponse.com/lost-cat-behavior/ , particularly in the first section regarding trapping for your poor kitty -- live trapping is an **EXTREMELY** useful tool for bringing fearful cats home safely. It is the best thing you can do once you've spoken to the neighborhood, posted flyers, and checked all outdoor containers, sheds, garages, and such. Ask your neighbors to do the same (even if they insist that they are sure kitty could not have gotten in there) and all of you should make a habit of banging on your car hoods and honking the horn before starting the engines. An engine compartment makes for a great hiding place in an emergency, but one that can quickly become lethal if they are still in there when someone starts it up.
I also suggest that you also be check and double-check indoor containers, boxes, attics/bat, and places like that -- anywhere a kitty might have decided to play hide-and-seek in and risked getting stuck inside. Lastly, if you can get out there late at night, using a flashlight to check under bushes and in dark hiding places is another thing to try; the light will reflect off of kitty eyes, helping you to spot them no matter how silent they are. Never give up hope, or give up on saving their life!
