Our indoor cat would often get outside and then get stuck up high in a tree.
They instinctively climb up, and then look down and think "oh sh-t what do I
do now!?" and then stay up there until hunger gets to them.

-----------
When my father died, my friend came over to prepare some food for the post
funeral meal. She left the door ajar. I didn't realize until later that
evening that Amanda, an indoor-only cat, was missing. I was frantic. That
night was a huge thunderstorm. I couldn't sleep, thinking about her out in
it. After the funeral, people came to visit and asked if they could do
anything. I asked them to help me find my cat. After three days, I was
walking around the neighborhood for the umpteenth time, and my neighbor's
deck caught my eye. I had looked there already, but I was just drawn to it
again. I went over to the deck and started calling "Amanda, Amanda, Amanda!"
After a little bit, I thought I heard a faint "mew." I kept calling, and the
mew got louder and louder. Finally, she popped out. It took a while. She did
not come running out. She was covered in mud, but looked okay otherwise. I
was never so happy to get a cat home. Thinking I would never see that cat
again was the worst feeling in the world. I really feel for you. Don't give
up. Ask your neighbors to check their garages. Check under all decks. The
cat may be scared. Don't assume that just because the cat doesn't come
bounding out to greet you that he's not there. Please call any local animal
shelters. Sometimes people find what they think are "lost" pets and they
turn them into the shelter. Please keep us updated. What's your cat's name?
Best regards,
---Cindy S.

Cats get stuck in neighbors' buildings all the time! Go from door to
door and ask each person to open all of their out buildings/garages and
check for your cat. Hang up posters that your cat is missing and ask
people on the poster to check their buildings.

If your cat never stays away like this, chances are very good that he
just can't get home on his own.

Rhonda

Go bang on doors.
Our Pixibob mix Kirby disappeared one cold day when he was about a year old.
Only after going door to door in the neighborhood did we find him the next
day about two blocks away . The folks that had him said he showed up at the
back slider the night before with a bewildered look and showed no fear of
coming in. The gentleman of the house quipped "We figured him to be too nice
a cat to be a stray."
Best of luck.
Alan