Cat lost for 25 hours

Question

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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Scooter, neutered, 8 years old (birth date approximately 9/7/1998), indoor/outdoor, American Shorthair, beautifully striped gray/white/black, front paws white, rear legs white almost to his rump, has a white tip on his tail. Wife let him outside on the front porch at 4:00 PM 11/27/06. I got home at 5:00 PM. At 5:30 'something' told me to look for Scooter since he usually is close to the house when I get home. During the day he, along with Nubbin, an American Bobtail, normally checks out the yards on both sides of our house, plus a small woods and swamp. Only once came in late (11:30 PM - during the summer several years ago). Not overly friendly with strangers, but not a scaredy-cat either. Last night scoured area until 11:30 PM for a live Scooter, then, today, for a dead Scooter. Nothing. Asked all neighbors, but no luck. Everyone has opened up their outbuildings in hopes he got locked up. Is he dead? If so, am I going to find him to bury him? If he is alive, am I going to find him?
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Hi Stephen, I'm checking back to see how things are going?  Did you find and capture Scooter?  What is the status?  I worry about our lost loved ones and was just wondering what happened to you and Scooter.

My prayers and thoughts are with you and please let me know what the outcome is ok?

Have a safe, blessed Holiday Season.  I'll be back online after the New Years.

     Debbie
  This is 12/24 and Scooter is still missing. We are now certain the 17 year old male across the street either took him and killed him or dropped him in a remote area OR at least chased him far enough away so he lost his bearings to find his way back. Scooter did get disoriented several years ago so this last thing is a possibility.
  I contacted 2 pet psychics (Rachael Resk was one of them) who told me he was chased away by the boy across the street and was stuck somewhere. I personally think she was just trying to make me feel good and giving me hope. I do believe in psychics but wonder if she was one. I think she was relating normal cat habits. However, if you can verify she IS a true psychic, that would help me emotionally.
  I have handed out flyers, taped/nailed flyers to signs and trees, and paid a lot of money for a want add with photo in the paper. We had some serious nibbles from the subdivision to the right, which is where Ms Resk said he went, but the sightings suddenly stopped.
  I am sorry this sounds bleak. He was/is the best cat I've ever had and I feel I let him down by not protecting him from the young man across the street. Don't even ask if I asked, in a round-about way, if they know anything about his disappearance. I suggested maybe he got caught in one of their vehicles and was somewhere far off. Of course the boy and his mother denied everything. We've been through this before when they've been shooting their rifles. I just won't go into any more detail other than to say I saw the signs, but didn't protect my cat.
  Thank you for your follow up inquiry. I'm finding out there are way more nice people in this world than bad.
     Stephen Carnes

Answer
Hi Stephen, Thank you SO much for answering and giving me more information to go on.  No, it is not your fault but I understand only too well how we beat up on ourselves for anything that happens to our precious ones!

Ok, since you had some sightings in this new area (and the feeling is Scooter was chased out of his territory), I would concentrate your attention there.  Flyers, and I hope you or someone you know can spend at least a few nights sitting in your car watching in the subdivision for kitty paths.  Ask as many people as you can in this subdivision if there is anyone free feeding cats outside.  That is where they will try to gather.  

Neutered and/or spayed cats are LOW on the list for fighting or getting into trouble, but I do believe he could have been, like you said, chased away from his normal territory and now is "lost".  That's why keeping fresh food and stinky foods in your yard may help smell his way nearer, and watching from just before sunset to dawn in this new subdivision could give you just the clues you need to see him, or see where other strays are going to eat.  1 month is NOT a long time - I saw my missing loved ones after 1 YEAR in the exact place!  As long as they can find a water source and someone putting food down, or the mice hunting is good, they will stay and wait until you can get a handle on where Scooter has found to eat.

Yes, I found too when out looking for my lost ones there are MANY more nice people than bad when it comes to a lost animal at least and met so many wonderful people (and a few bad apples : -)  We are leaving today to drive across the country but I will be back online around Sunday/Monday.  Please, if you have any time ask around for those free feeders in this new subdivision and that is near where I would park my car to sit in and watch all night.  You'll be surprised (and horrified) to see how many cats will roam after dark!  All my thoughts and prayers are with you and scooter and please let me know that you got at least one night of watching in - Remember to take a notepad and write down times, coloring of cats, direction they came from and where they seem to be going.  The next time you sit out, put your food right in one of these pathways.  Of course, keep YOUR kitty station going in your yard too.  I'll be checking back with you around New Years hoping you have at least been able to spot him one night.  Remember they do NOT come when called, so sitting in your car and being "still" you will see all sorts of cats wandering and I do so hope you get a peek at Scooter so we know where to being seriously trapping!