Should I have given up hope by now?

Hello everyone. I am happy that I found this website but it's unfortunate why I looked for one.

      My cat has been missing for about 5 and a half months, since late October 2014. He is one of the sweetest pets I have ever had, and it has just been too long. In the beginning, we posted fliers, contacted the shelters, animal control, etc. We even went around and dropped fliers in mailboxes in our neighborhood. He and his brother are medium sized, fit and healthy cats who are allowed outdoors but refuse to wear a collar so don't. We don't clip their nails so it's not like he would be totally defenseless. My main concern is that he has been lost over the course of the winter (we live in Upstate NY, so winter is no walk in the park), and that they have never been lost for more than 5 days.

      Everyone else has given up hope, but I just have a feeling that we'll see him again. Every night I have prayed that he would return, but I really just want this to be over as soon as possible. He and his brother have been out some winter nights, and know how to get food. I feel like he may be in someone's home, who either thought he was a stray or wanted him out of the cold. I really feel like I could and should do something, but what could I do at this point? What would any of you, if you unfortunately been in a similar position, recommend I do?

I want to thank you for helping in this extended time of pain.

I have read stories on this site of people getting their cat back after 5 years so i would not gave up. I remembered one member telling a story about someone they knew did. They contacted animal shelter, did pretty much everything as op then about 5 years later a shelter contacted her and she got her cat back. Correct me if I am wrong, I believe it was catwoman707 who told it, I am going to find it so I can confirm

edit I was wrong it was thekittengirl who told it

It's reassuring to hear that people do find their cats, even years later. I would definitely keep looking and not lose hope! In the meantime, please take care of yourself. Talk to someone (or people here at TCS), find some activities to keep busy and again, take care of yourself. I hope your kitties do show up one day safe in your arms. 

I misunderstood the poll, can i change it

Your post really struck a chord with me.

Two years ago today my cat George went out and never came home again. He was a feral born kitten that I had raised since his Mum abandoned him and he was the sweetest cat I'd ever had. I lived in a really rural area with lots of other cats around, I thought it was safe for him to go out if he wanted to.

I did everything I could think of to find him; Posters, fliers, his picture up on local TV, called animal control and every vet and shelter in the area, set up a trail cameras all over, even spoke to animal psychics.

I spent all my spare time and money on searching for him but I never found any trace of him again.

But it wasn't all bad. Because I put so much effort into looking for George I found a kitten trapped in a shed and was able to let her out, found a dog that was being neglected by her owners and reported them (they were eventually forced to take her to a vet) I also got to know the people who run an animal shelter and borrowed a trap from them so I was able to TNR all the feral cats in my neighbourhood. I managed to TNR 35 cats and rehome 14 kittens. It was because of this that I became good friends with my vet. He has his own traps now and advocates TNR by offering a discount on any feral cats brought in to his clinic. ( TNR is  still quite a new thing here in Japan.)

So my advice to you is please don't give up hope. Keep looking for your cat because something good will come of it. Even if you don't find him, you'll find a way to help other cats who need you. Knowing that you're doing everything you can to bring him home again makes a huge difference.