How best to keep eye out for previous owner's cat

[InescapableDeath]

We moved into a new house seven weeks ago. The previous owners have moved to a nearby town and one of their cats have gone walkabout (two weeks ago). They have a theory that she is heading back here and is due to arrive 'this weekend'.

They have kids and am sure are pretty frantic but it seems unlikely to me she would spend a full two weeks getting here, especially in this heat.

Has it happened to anyone else? Did the cat turn up after a long journey?

Should I put some water in the garden in case she does come? I don't have cats (am allergic, sob), so don't know if there's anything I should do.

Owner has already been in touch via estate agent, facebook and whatsapp to tell us to look out for it. They've also popped by (they thought we were out I think) calling for her. I would like to help if I could.

I really don't believe cats can find their way from one town to another. If they had moved close by, well then yes, maybe. From another town? No chance.

Well I've read stories in media where it happens. So maybe. Do you know what you are looking out for? Water is good. I wouldn't put out food though...unless you were pretty sure you'd seen it.

We have other neighbourhood cats so no point putting food out as they’d just snaffle it. I’ve seen photos yes and she’s different to the others locally.

It seems unlikely to me too!

I was in our downstairs bathroom when they popped by. The window was open and they were clearly walking up and down the drive calling her name. I was just lucky they didn’t look in... so I want to help it I can, if only to avoid lots of additional visits from people who are probably very nice (and worried) but don’t live here any more!

Help if, not it...

@thecatneuterer

I really don't believe cats can find their way from one town to another. If they had moved close by, well then yes, maybe. From another town? No chance.

I didn't believe it either, until my former neighbours cat, who had moved with them to Brighton 6 months before, turned back up at their old house in London. He was chipped, so they knew it was the actual same cat.

I wouldn’t put it past a determined cat.

I’d put water out. They like filtered water if you have it.

Our old neighbour's cat did this. I saw a cat out of the window about 6 months after they moved out and I said to DH I am sure that cat used to live a few doors away at the house that sold...
After a few weeks it got a bit more friendly and I coaxed it in and got it in the carrier and off to the vets to be scanned.
Turns out they had moved about 4 miles away and cat had gone missing fairly soon after they moved 6 months prior.
The chip was still registered to the address in our street, the mobile number no longer existed but the vets sent an email and that got a reply (we didn't know the neighbours).

Do they just want you to call them if you see it or do they think it will come to you?

My neighbours moved to the opposite side of town (about a 30 minute drive) and their cat found it's way back three times. Took it about two weeks the first time, a week the second and third. We always have water outside for our own cats but put food out when we spotted him. They had contacted us to say he was missing and we just sent a text every day to check if he was home and reassure them we were still keeping an eye out for him.

While that was going on my own cat managed to go missing for 11 days and only made it as far as two streets away. I think something spooked her and she ran so quickly she didn't know where she was. I was out for hours every evening calling her and clinking her food bowl in desperation. A couple of people contacted us to say they'd seen her around the cul de sac so I don't think she'd made it any further, she was just completely lost.

@thecatneuterer

I really don't believe cats can find their way from one town to another. If they had moved close by, well then yes, maybe. From another town? No chance.

They definitely can!

It happens here fairly often - cat disappears and isn't seen for weeks. The owners assume it's been hit by a car or something and it appears miles away at their old house.