Well, that's a cat for you, isn't it. Mario crouches and reaches his hand out, close enough the cat could come approach and sniff, but not too close. He's not paying attention to the shadows at all.

"Hey there kitty kitty... Are you all by yourself?"

Surely a single cat did not show up on its own. Unless it has been with the ship this whole time, somehow? Unless the cat decides it can talk, Mario guesses he won't get an answer on that one.

"Hmm? Is there someone with you? Here, kitty kitty." He keeps beckoning to it, hoping.