When searching for a cat, it'll be easier to find if you had previously implanted a microchip in it or drawn a tattoo on the cat's body. You'll be able to identify your cat faster with either of these. A microchip will allow your cat to be scanned and identified by any shelter in the area. There have been cases where certain microchips have been unscannable by certain scanners, and this is because of the lack of a universal scanner. The competition to manufacture these scanners led to a wide range of various incompatible scanners in the market, but new scanners have been manufactured with a wider range of microchip compatibility.
When a cat goes missing, there is always a high chance that the lost cat is still around the neighborhood. You should not start panicking immediately you notice your cute little cat is nowhere in the house; maybe the cat just stepped out and couldn't find its way back home. Searching for a cat during the day might prove abortive and really frustrating. Instead, you should search for the cat in the early hours of the morning. Play a familiar sound as you walk around the neighborhood. If your cat is around and hears it, it will surely come out to you.
If you search around your neighborhood and come back empty, you should start thinking of taking bigger steps in the search for your cat. Print a photo of your cat and paste it around the neighborhood; maybe someone has already found your cat and is keeping it safe. When the photo of your cat gets registered in the minds of your neighbors, you'll have more eyes searching for it.
An online local search is also promising. They have recorded high success in recovering lost cats. All you need to do is find a local online search website where you can declare your cat missing and provide vital and unique information that will enable an effective search. If you have given your cat a tattoo or if it has a unique mark, make sure you provide the details. These local search engines will help connect anyone who has a piece of information about your cat to you.