Oh Pam i pray and hope that your friends kitty comes back safe and sound. Has she gone around the neighbourhood calling for her cat? I have had this happen to me in the past and i know how upsetting this can be. Please, please keep us posted. Gosh i have tears in my eyes just thinking about the poor little kitty out there all alone and how frightened she must be.
Please let your friend know that we wish her all the luck and that she is in our prayers.
By the way, i was fortunate to find my kitty the same night after searching hours with a flashlight. I could hear him meowing, but he was to frighten to come out, so i had to crawl under a gallery to get him out. Thank god he was okay.
Picture this though. Walking down the street in the middle of the night, holding your cat in your arms and telling him, out loud mind you, not to ever scare mommy like that again and that he was grounded. No treats for him that night. (but he still got them cause i was just so happy to have found him)