It now seems that Smudge only turns up every other day for food. In fact this week Smudge didn't turn up for 4 days and then turned up this morning absolutely ravenous. He hissed at me as I was getting Smidge's plate to put some food down and I couldn't get the food down quick enough before Smudge was upon it. He ended up eating half a tin of cat food in less time than Smidge ate half of his quarter of a tin. Then he disappeared. Appeared later on so gave him some Friskies and then disappeared again but seemed to have spent the day in the front garden and turned up for tea, not so hungry.
I had thought I had been making progress with Smudge. I became courageous and stroked him down his back whilst he was eating. He didn't seem too bothered.
Smidge is still around nearly all the time. There is the odd day he will spend sleeping next door but most days when he hears someone in the garden it won't be long before we hear a mao mao. Still as friendly as ever.
