Recently I've been seeing another cat around too. It's much more timid than the other - quite a heavy-set chunky cat, also black and long-haired. Looks like it might have some Persian in it, maybe. It's eaten food I've left out a couple of times, and I've been able to stroke it twice, but usually it just walks away if I approach.
I really want to catch it and take it to the vet because it has a really horrible-looking eye. It started off a bit cloudy and has progressed to completely opaque and an angry reddish-pink colour with gunky discharge, and obviously needs medical attention.
So I'm waiting for it to turn up again in the hope that I can grab it. It'll hate me, but it needs to be done. Poor thing. I think it's another sweet cat but it's scared because it's in pain. Last time I stroked it it was really responsive for a few seconds and pushed up against my hand, but then seemed to lose confidence and backed off, crying, and then exited via the hedge.
I hope it comes back.