Feral Mama Cat Abandoned Kittens??

Question
Feral mama had kittens July 5 -- I'm sure, she was very pregnant & then showed up not pregnant the next day.  She hangs around for about one to two hours at a time (I always feed her) and then dissappears.  I can't find the kittens.  Would she leave newborn kittens for that long, an hour or more?  Won't they die without her there?  They could only be one or two days old.  I'm very concerned she abandoned them but I can't find a next anywhere.

Answer
Susanne,

Don't worry too much. A feral will leave her kittens, especially to go search for food, for a long time as long as she knows they are safe. She also won't go to the kittens if she knows you are watching her.

If the kittens are ok and if she trust you enough, or thinks she can't take care of them but you will, she will bring the kittens to you (make a bed in a box somewhere close that is 'safe' just in case). If she wants you to know where they are she will 'tell' you.  She will do that by walking away the turning around meowing, walk and turn around and meow until you follow her.

PS: a mother nursing kittens needs about 4 times the amount of food she is normally fed to make up for what the babies take out of them. Make sure she has fresh water available too.

Tabbi