Missing cat comfort needed

[CarriePie]

My lovely cat is missing. He was last seen playing outside around 7pm on Monday evening and not a stitch has been seen since.
My very first cat that I ever owned myself was run over on the road outside our house 2 years ago. When we had had her less than a year. And it is not a busy road.
We got 2 boys a few months later to try and get over what happened. And it's one of these boys that is missing. So we have had him for around 18mths (he is neutered and chipped). I feel so unlucky
When I was a teenager 2 of my family cats went missing within a few months of each other. They were barely 2. I remember we tried our best with posters etc to find them but they literally just vanished.
I have spent what feels like ages walking and calling. Daytime, dusk and night time. Investigating the garage blocks etc. I have put flyers through some neighbours doors. Talked to other neighbours. And continually posted on social media. Relentlessly. I have spoken to every cat I see out and about as well as asking our remaining cat to find him and bring him home. I have even tried some spiritual stuff which I don't really believe in but feel it won't hurt! I have emptied the contents of our hoover on the our front lawn (he doesn't have a litter tray) but nothing. I feel anxious and sad all the time.
The reason I'm writing this I guess is for some comfort and also a lot of people say that cats do this and he will eventually be home but in my experience cats disappear and are never seen again.

After what happened to my family cats when I was younger it was my worst fear that this would happen. I shut my boys in overnight every night and of course can't do that now so that is making me more anxious as I know my remaining boy is wandering. (Although so far he is usually always back at some point and comes up to my bed). It seems so unfair that my worst fear has happened.

One of my cats once went missing, which was completely out of character. I located her I think 4 or 5 days later, through social media. I had paid a small fee for an organisation (I think help2rehome, though they may just be in Scotland) to put an appeal on their Facebook and she was found through that. She wasn't far away, but I think just far enough that she couldn't find her way home. I have everything crossed that your cat turns up safe and well x

I was going to say put a picture on Facebook with a reward if you can afford it? I know what you’re going through. 😞

Things you coul do -

Ring all vets within a 5 mile radius
Ring RSPCA, PDSA, microchip company.
Put up posters (with a photo on) on every lamppost of your road, and the 2 streets either side of yours. Offer a reward (minimum £50)
Put posters up in local shops, library, any public place.
Put an advert in your local newspaper.

We did this when one of ours went missing. She turned up after a few days. I did this when my son's cat went missing for 3 weeks. We were frantic with worry. She'd been locked in the shed at the local primary school.

Best of luck.

So sorry you’re going through this. You must be frantic with worry. Hoping he comes home soon. Keep calling and shaking the cat biscuit box. Xx

Thank you for your replies. I have the ability to pay for a reward but I am holding off. I am hoping to use the money for a search campaign for some one like animal search UK. It's breaking my heart. I spend so long waiting for him to wander down the path.

Hope he turns up.

My incredibly bonded cat went missing and I was frantic. He turned up after 8 days
I did offer a reward, and also told the kids that loiter about looking tough that if they found him and brought him home safe I would give them cash

Still no sign and it's now been over a week. Any success stories?

A week isn’t that long really . Fingers crossed that he turns up soon

Don't give up hope. It could be that he’s finding food elsewhere. Keeping fingers crossed for you xx

Posters around area. My cat went missing for 5 days, found in a locked house after owner had gone to hospital. Family had seen my poster and called me to pick him up. Stressed, hungry but fine, except for a new habit of drinking out of the loo.

Cats are resilient, fingers crossed for you

A family over here in France moved here about a month ago and the day after moving, one of their cats managed to escape and was missing the whole time. She came back just 2 days ago, to a house that she has never lived in.

So there is hope.

Put loads of his scented pillows etc out in the garden and on the washing line so he can smell his scent. And try and walk the other cat around so he can hear and smell him.

One of our lovely friendly ferals who had lived in the garden a year went missing about 6 weeks ago so I feel your pain.

Mine went missing for 3 months and I really thought that he had been run over and was gone.
There were some sightings that didn’t turn out to be him until he was spotted stealing hedgehogs food from a cat proof feeding station near where I lived.

He was a rescue and had become very nervous again- I couldn’t get him in the cat box.

I borrowed a trap from the Cats protection and put his favourite smelly food - he went in first time.

So don’t give up hope