When a cat leaves home it can get really bad, especially when the hours go by and there is no news from him. It is an experience that, although it is really painful, that feeling does not have to paralyze us, but rather it has to serve as an impulse to do something so that our friend returns.
We cannot and should not sit idly by waiting for him to do it alone; first because we would be wasting our time while having a bad time, and second because it may need our help to be able to return. So I'm going to tell you how to help a cat come home.
The sense of direction of a cat is very good, but of course, to be able to orient itself it is important that it leaves the house regularly, otherwise it can be lost very easily. Bearing this in mind, if ours has never gone abroad and one day, by mistake, he does, what we have to do is go out and look for him immediately. But, where?
It will not be necessary to go very far. Un domestic cat scared what he is going to do is look for an area where he can feel safe: behind or under a container or car, between some trees, in his own garden at home... You have to look well in all corners, even those in which we do not think it could be.
Another thing we must do is call him in a very loud voice (without shouting, but to be heard without problems). I recommend that the voice sound as cheerful as possible; This will help the cat to calm down and regain confidence. In the event that we hear, even a slight meow, we will go there and catch it, if possible introducing it in a carrier or cage, or wrapping it with a towel.
If we think it is in a very hidden area, we can take some open can of wet cat food. The smell can travel several meters, and since the smell is highly developed, it will surely smell it and little by little it approaches us.
In the event that there has been no luck, we have to put up "Wanted" signs and notify the neighbors and the vet, and then continue with our search.
For more information, I advise reading this article.