We heard a very sad meowing outside during the day today, then again this evening. The source, an adult gray long-hair cat, sounded lonely and lost, and he didn't go away, so we went out to investigate.
After I sat quietly for a while, this guy came up to sniff my hand and eventually eat from a bowl we set out for him. From the condition of his fur, I'd guess he's only been living outside for a little while. He's skittish, but seemed basically comfortable around people.
Click on the thumbnails for larger images.
Update: His name is Nemo. His person contacted us through our vet. He hasn't gone home yet, but we're headed in the right direction.
Another Update: Back to square one. After a few days, the mystery cat came up and said hello to Nemo's person. He's a sweetheart, but he's not Nemo. Is he yours?
(And to clarify, we didn't actually know if this cat is male or female. )
Update: He has a torn ear, healed, as an identifying mark.