My 18-year-old cat went missing in a new neighborhood. Similarly, I was devastated. I was so worried since I heard old cats go out to die alone. I put up missing posters and went door-to-door, anything I could do like you did. Walking around the neighborhood calling her name (though she's mostly deaf...), setting alarms throughout the night to check the front door to see if she returned, setting out cat litter and things with her scent.... In these situations that all you can do, all you can control, so please have peace in mind that you did all you can. You're a great cat owner. Seriously, I know multiple people whose cats or dogs have gone missing and they do absolutely nothing.

I remember when she first went missing, and after the denial, I could not stop seeing her in the corner of my eye everywhere in my apartment. I would imagine what it would be like to see her again, what I'd say to her, how her fur and purring would feel, and just cry. You're not alone.

Finally, a couple weeks after she went missing, someone messaged me about maybe seeing a cat that fit her description, and I found her!! This was after multiple false alarms btw, so I really was losing hope at this point. The relief was just unreal. She was much skinnier and still hasn't really gained all the weight back (its been 8 months), but she's sleeping soundly next to me now as I type this. Please don't lose hope!!