Years ago I read a book by a lady in Fresno, CA, who ran a pet finding company. In the book she said that while dogs can cover a heck of a long distance, most cats will not go past the second or third house from home. BUT if scared or injured, in pain, they won't answer to even their owners' voices, their natural instinct is to hide from danger.
She said....Look in places that you'd never think they could get into, and put out a Hava=Heart cage with their favorite treat in it. Check it often at a distance.