"..she is a free spirit and an outdoor cat living in the woods behind my house. She comes home to eat, cuddle and snooze, then she is off."

Remember that your cat knows how to thrive with or without you. And she is a freedom seeking lover and that is natural to her.

Since she is far way from home, I also suggest when you return, you go to the vets office and find some little things of yours and hers that have your scent on it and leave them around/outside the vets office. This will let her know you are waiting for her and not to wonder too far. And have the vets keep an eye out for her.

Also, since you don't live near the vets, prepare some leaflets with her photo and your contact details and cover them with a transparent plastic sleeves. Stick them on lamp posts and trees and drop some flyers in neighbouring houses.

Someone will see her. Someone will contact you. Your cat knows how to thrive and will be wondering around looking for food.

Several years ago, a cat came to my garden and got stuck up a tree. For 4 days, me and my neighbours tried to coax her down. But when the animal centre came round and got her down, she ran off. The following day, an old lady came round and asked if I had seen her cat, and I told her that she had run off after coming down the tree. She was very depressed because she had had this cat for 12 years. Luckily, I asked the lady to leave me her number.

3 days later, this cat returned to my garden and seemed disorientated, I suspected she had lost the scent of getting home. I managed to coax her into my kitchen and quickly phoned the old lady. She was so happy to be reunited!

Love
Maya X

ahhhh....thats so sweet of you.
Cats are special.