Moved, cat got out, missing a month now

I moved 30 miles away to a very small town.  One of my cats was a barn cat prior to me adopting him and since he has always been an indoor/outdoor cat.  Not chipped and no collar - he wasn't chipped when he was neutered by the humane society and I never put a collar on him as I heard horror stories of the collar getting caught on something and hanging/trapping the cat.  

In my previous house he'd like to go out after I got home from work, stay out all night and then in the morning he'd walk along side the dogs and I as we took our morning walk, come inside to eat and sleep throughout the day.  Rinse and repeat.  The longest he has gone and not returned was the first night he got out at the previous house which was a little over 2 weeks if I remember correctly.  He is also an excellent hunter, usually every morning I'd wake up to something new being dead on my door step from him.

So I moved, plan was to keep him in the house for 2-3 months for him to get use to the new smells and know what the new "home" smelled like.  Well he's too smart for his own good, the back door is one of those latches, not a door knob and he figured out how to open it on his 3rd day at the new house.  This is a very small town, posted flyers throughout, posted on Craigslist, posted on the Humane Society site about a lost pet.

What are the chances he'll find this way home?  

Chances are good he could find his way home, the home he knows best. Whether he makes it or not depends on terrain and predators. I wish I could tell you he will head "home" by the straightest path, but that may not be the case. I would concentrate on a wide stretch of area between new and old homes. I'd try to stop at as many houses in that area as you can. Are there paved roads, or rivers to cross?

I am not saying to ignore all the area all around your new home. Leave a used litterbox next to the house, leave bedding in another spot, leave clothing with your smell in another spot. 

Use any and all forms of social media. Sometimes local newspapers and/or radio stations will give an ad for lost and/or found pets for free. Let your imagination go wild, with ideas. Believe me, in this kind of situation, nothing is too silly or stupid when it comes to the animals we love. 

When I moved into the country, I had two horses get loose. I called police in the three small towns closest and the county Sheriff, as well as all the other lost animal things. A deputy found them because he overheard a guy telling a friend about two horses he found. It's been over 30 years, both horses have passed, yet I still feel irritated that anyone could find horses and not report it. That's why I say to go to as many houses as possible, just take care in approaching the homes of strangers, take a friend. If you feel unsure about a place, maybe leave a note on the mailbox..

Good luck and please keep us updated!

You might try putting some food outside for him during the day as well as some of his familiar scents.  If he uses a litter box, people often place the litter box outside or scatter some of the used litter.  This can attract the cat to its own scent. 

I am so sorry your kitty is missing.  I hope that he will find his way back to you.

Here are some articles with some great information on when one has a missing pet.

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/248019/tips-for-finding-a-lost-cat

http://www.missingpetpartnership.org/recovery-tips/lost-cat-behavior/

https://www.petfinder.com/cats/lost-and-found-cats/tips-for-finding-lost-cats/