I am so glad to hear that Shadow found her way home!

In the event that my experience with a lost kitty might help someone in the future, I'd like to share what I did.

I had fostering a feral that accidentally escaped from my home. I knew, because she was still terrified of people (I am working on socializing her), there was no way I could ever find her in any traditional way. Even if I saw her, she would run.

I went to the local SPCA and borrowed a humane cage, the ones they use to catch ferals. (They asked for a $50 deposit, but the entire deposit was returned when I returned the cage).

I put it out right in front of my door, covered it, except for the entrance, with a towel (so if she was caught she wouldn't be as frightened), slipped in a bowl filled with real tuna & juce, and left it outside. I figured she would eventually get hungry enough, and she loooves tuna.

The first night, I caught a different cat and let it go.

The second night, I heard the trap door go about 2 a.m. It was her!

I brought in the trap, still covered, stood behind it so she wouldn't be frighteneed by me or possibly attack, and opened the door.

She dashed out, and although a bit shaken, within an hour or so, she was back to normal.

I'm so glad I thought of the trap idea. It would work with any cat, feral or not.