Releasing feral cat

Hi! So our feral momma cat is getting fixed today. I have her crate all cleaned and ready when she comes back. Vet says she needs to stay inside tonight since she won't be able to regulate her body temp with being put out for surgery. Any suggestions on the best way to release her once she is ready? I had her in a crate outside under my carport to get used to the sounds and smells of the area. I am hoping once I open her crate she will hang around since we will offer her food and shelter.

thank you for fixing her! If you release her in her territory where you captured her, she will stay if there is food and shelter.

Thank you for helping her!

If you are releasing her in new territory, she may try to make it back to her old home.  If this is the case, and the crate is safe from the weather and large enough to hold a carrier and a litter box, you can keep her in it for up to a month.  (A four foot crate is plenty big enough).  She may not be happy but she will be safer.  It will get her used to the new sights and sounds of her new territory.

If she's being released in familiar territory, then keep her overnight is fine.  I would just check to make sure her incision is not weeping or open.  If so, keep her until it is more healed.

I always kept my ferals inside a crate inside my shed.  Made it a lot easier to familiarize them with their new "home."

Thank u so much! She has been in our house for two weeks then outside in a crate for a week maybe. So you think she needs more time around here before I let her go? Her other place isn't too far from here but I was hoping she would stay around here so she would get fed regularly.

Another week in the crate should do it.  She's already had time to imprint on the new digs, so she should hang around.  Keep her feeding schedule the same.

Sounds like she's a very lucky kitty!

Thank you!