A feral cat I have been feeding for about 4 months has suddenly stopped coming back. He used to stay in my yard fro most of the day. He first disappeared for about 6 days then he returned. Now he has disappeared again.

A feral cat I have been feeding for about 4months has stopped coming back to eat. I was making progress - he let me pet him and would talk to me. He disappeared for about 5 days the first time. When he came back he didn't meow and wouldn't look at me. He just ate and left. Now he has been gone for about four days again. Why has he changed his behavior

Could be some females in the neighbourhood are in heat; he is answering nature's call. After all that is what feral cats do.