My male cat is missing since 11 days, is there any hope of his returning home?

Question
QUESTION: My male cat had been missing fom around 11 days now. He left home on 7th May 2012 and didnt come back since then. He's 2 and half years old and unnuetered. Last year he went out and came back in 5 days, and since then he had been going out almost every night and returning back a few hours later or in the morning. Sometimes he doesnt go also, depending on his wish. It's the second time and 11 days now. There's a female stray cat after whom also he used to go before, but now she's with a baby and she is still seen around everyday. I think she won't allow him near coz of the baby, so he might not have gone after her. Then there's a male black cat, a stray, he too I found missing since the day my cat went out, but today I saw him sitting in the stairs of my house. My cat has had numerous fights with this another male cat but had always survived. He's bigger and fatter in comparison to the stray one. Since 11 days I am going out in search of him calling his name, asking neighbours, children, strangers, workers. I took meat bags along with me too thinking he might get tempted to eat that and come back home soon. Left my unwashed clothes in nearby areas where i thought he could possibly be. Left food and water out in the porch for him but found the female cat eating it,not my cat. Placed his litterbox too in the porch hoping that he might smell his scent and come back if he forgot the direction of the house. Even lit candle as I read somewhere that candle light attract felines. Did whatever I found in the internet and what wellwishers aked me to do, just to get him back, but in vain. Want to inform a little more about him, that he is a greyish brown cat with black stripes, and is white chested. We usually do find such cats walking around the Indian roads. Two days back one worker in a construction site told that he saw the same cat when I showed him my cat's picture. But I am doubting if he's my cat as we see plenty such cats walking down the roads here, though it's the only positive thing since 11 days I learnt, and I am just hoping he's fine and I'll find him soon, and that cat turns out to be mine only. Will he come back?

ANSWER: Hi Shru,

I think it's possible he'll come back. I can't be sure, because so many things can happen to a cat as he wanders, but I have had a cat that was missing for more than 3 weeks come home. And she didn't have any reason to wander away. I think your cat is probably out following females. If he ceases to find any, and he's still in the area, he will probably return home. Some cats can be away from home for weeks or even a few months. It's a good idea to tell everyone you're still looking for him once in a while. Sometimes people think a cat has no home and decide to take them, and you want to be sure this doesn't happen. If he does come home and you know of a vet that will neuter him, this will work wonders to stop him from wandering so much.

Best wishes,
Jessica

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Could you suggest what else I should do to search for my cat?

Answer
I think you have done everything possible. Now it's just hoping that in time, he'll decide to return home. I would continue to walk around the area and call him. That's how I got my cat to come home. Don't give up hope too soon - my aunt has a cat that disappeared when he was unneutered. He was gone for a whole year. One day he just came back! This is uncommon, but it does happen.