Need advice - I messed up releasing a feral cat :(

I will try to keep this short - feral cat and 6 kittens living at a nursing home.  The caretaker wanted them GONE and is not an animal lover.  I trapped all 6 kittens and am happy to report that a very responsible no kill shelter will take them in two weeks.  They were a little feral, but taming up wonderfully.  The mother cat I trapped,spayed, and am keeping her at the clinic for 3 days to heal somewhat.  But tomorrow I am faced with the dilemma of where to release her.  1.  Return her secretly back at the care home where I truly believe they would harm her/kill her if they see her.  They hate cats and are fumigating and setting rat traps.  2.  Let her go in my backyard.  Which is fine, but do you think she will try to find her way back to her kittens?   Do you think she can?  As a crow flies it is a about one mile but across a busy street and a desert wash with coyotes.  I am just sick about this.   I have this fantasy she would stay here and I could keep her as an outdoor cat.  I don't know what to do.   Keeping inside my small house is not an option.  I have 5 cats, 2 dogs and and 87 yr old mother I am caregiver for.  I don't know what to do.

Can you build a small cage for her (just 2x4s and wire mesh, nothing fancy) in the yard, or use a large dog crate? She needs to stay in a cage on the property for 10-14 days so she knows where she lives. After that she should stay around your place. That's probably best unless you can find someone with a farm to take her.

I will check into buying a large dog crate.  She is really wild, will it be torture for her to be in it that long?

Any way to contact the city TNR program & find out where current "colonies" are? If she can be relocated in an area where they are already being fed, fixed & cared for.
(Only question is... Did you taper her left ear?) that way she wont be trapped & cut up again. It's a city marking thing. Lol

I'm confused as to where the kittens are now. Why would the mother go back to them?

Hi @Kathy Morgan  Thank you for helping this little family.

Good job on getting the kittens to a safe place.



A proper dog crate is obviously much safer.

No, it won't drive her crazy to be contained for this long. When feral cats find themselves in a strange environment their instincts tell them to hunker down and stay hidden. By providing her with a small enclosed area to hide in you're actually making her feel much safer.

My feral stayed in this enclosure for about 3 months. Once I removed the netting to let her roam further she found her way indoors and is now a house cat 90% of the time. We have a cat door so she can go out if she wants, but she prefers to be inside.

As long as your feral has regular food and water and a safe place to sleep she will stay with you.

Please keep us updated on the situation.

A lady in the neighborhood has two large dog crates that I can use to keep her outside.  I will give it a try.  I appreciate all your input.  I am visiting the kittens today.  In two weeks they will be going to a very responsible no kill shelter, they agreed to take all six of them - 4 Paws of Sun city.  I'm so happy about that.  I will keep you posted, thank you again.

Yes, without confinement, she would try to get back to her "home" - where she would assume the kittens still were.

I think two dog crates is an excellent compromise.  Can you put them on a covered porch, out of the weather, or otherwise provide her with a shelter she can escape the weather?  Inside a shed or garage is good, too.

Thank you for helping this little family!