For 8 years Judy and I trapped ‘cats in California taking hundreds in the bobcat rich chaparral environment. Daunting at first for an Easterner, we soon put it together and learned what to do and look for. Look high and low. Cats travel the ridges and washes and will leave toilets, segmented feces. You can set location and or sign. Rock outcroppings are a great attractant. Check along the base. Where we were we set sign, but in some areas sign may be hidden, so location is key. Water is essential, not lots everywhere, just access. When you begin catching you may find that areas of certain types of vegetation lend itself to ‘cats. Locating white sage where we were usually meant ‘cats, no doubt because that was conducive to the rodents they hunted. Beyond that, keep your eyes open.
There are always places that will seem to make little sense, not falling into the typical categories.
If you keep a sharp eye out you will find tracks and scat in unexpected places. Don’t try to figure it all out, you never will, but just accept that critters are where you find them and you will be surprised to see where they show up. Rather than always look for the most remote areas, it’s not uncommon to find all sorts of animals right up close to and living with the civilized world between houses etc.