Well I've done just about everything I can searching for the cat this week. Drove up and down every road and side street, went looking on foot in the woods, asked numerous people, posted up signs, checked with the animal shelter. Can't find him anywhere. Something unusual has become of him and I may never know. If he left of his own volition, if he was taken, if he got trapped. I feel the most likely is he just wandered too far to come back. I keep thinking he's in a particular area near by, but I've yet to really get a good look there because people around here are so paranoid to see anyone wondering around they'll basically come out guns drawn.
No one is having good fortune with pets right now it seems. It sucks DOA, I've been there so many times. I saved a lock of hair from my last furry friend who passed. In a way, I'm also in the grieving process again myself.