This information is what a long time shelter worker advises the many people coming in to look for their cat.
Lost indoor cats are typically recovered within a 5 house radius. They will hunker down in a hiding spot usually next to a building and not move until they are found or get hungry. Usually they will not come when called or vocalize–you have to find them. Look at dusk and dawn with a flashlight so their eyes reflect. The single most important task is to take fliers door to door, pin to community mailboxes and on street corners. Seeing a cat outside is not unusal and no one will think twice about seeing your pet unless you’ve put a flier in their hand. Ask them to report any sightings by phone or text. Ask your neighbors to check their backyards, sheds and garages. Post on Craigslist, Nextdoor and Facebook lost and found sites. File lost reports with PACC and HSSA. Check PACC and HSSA every three days. Check found cats daily on Petharbor.com. Do not put a litter box outside. It will attract other cats and predators to the area. Put your used pillow case, socks or pajamas outside for scent. If you having towels or a blanket or any sort of bedding the cat slept on that cat work also. At a week missing, get a humane trap from a local trap depot (tucsonferalcat.org), shelter or feed store and load with tuna, canned mackeral or sardines in oil. The biggest mistake cat owners make is to quit physically looking too soon, assuming that the cat has been taken by predators. Cats take much longer to recover than dogs because of their hiding behavior.