like the others have said dont just ring you need to go to the shelter as having worked in one its really really hard to match pets with watch the owners say coz they all start looking the same, plus we just write down small details about each pet that comes in so what we might think or see might not be the same as the owner, its hard enough with dogs let alone cats... maybe take in a photo to give to the shelters so they might be able to reconize your cat if it does come in

as for the bating you live in QLD hate to say it but too many cats chase cane toads and if they get one well you can only guess, I lost a cat to this very thing when we lived in Cairns...

best of luck...