Last weds, our cat (8yrs) had a dental and had a lot of teeth out. She'd been struggling to eat for a while and that hasn't really improved since (mainly because she thinks it will hurt) she was having liquid painkiller to help.
She went out Saturday evening and has refused to come in since. We saw her Sunday morning and I tried to grab her (stupid and I regret it) and failed and then didn't see her again until Monday evening when she appeared at the window but ran when I opened it. She was seen again at midnight last night and then again this morning at 10 when I tried to coax her in but she's gone again 
We've left food out (smelly mackerel and tuna) but it's not been touched and her litter tray is outside (from when we thought she was properly lost) and I'm currently cooking a chicken in the hope the smell will entice her in. But she's not interested in food or us and I'm at my wits end with it now having run out of ideas.
I don't think a trap will work because food isn't interesting to her (and if it failed it would make things worse). She's always been a nervous/skittish cat but this has just tipped her over the edge and she just wont come anywhere near us now.
The back door is open and I'm hoping that she'll just wander in but other than that, I just don't know what to do anymore. It feels like the more proactive I am, the more skittish she gets.
What else can I do? do anyone have any ideas?