That happened to me when I was about 9. My cat Smoky was missing. I made up a poster and made 50 copies, put them up all over the neighborhood (on bike) ... got home to find out she'd been hiding under my parents bed OY!! all that work! But it would have been worth the trouble if she really was missing. The feeling of losing a cat is a very horrible one, second in strength only to the feeling you get when you find them again.

So glad yours turned up safe and sound! Have fun with your new family member!