Feral Cat Laws by State 2025

Yes

Covered by Animal Cruelty Law

State	Feral Cat Laws Exist↓	Legislation Title	Legal Statute	Legal Source	Additional Details
Alaska	Yes	Definitions Fish and Game	AS 16.05.940	Source	Feral cats are defined as "Game", hence - allowed to be hunted.
Arkansas	Yes	Definitions - Public Health & Welfare, Animals	§ 20-19-302 § 20-19-304	Source	Feral cats fall under the legal definition of 'Owner,' encompassing individuals who knowingly allow a cat to remain on or around their premises. Consequently, stray cats not vaccinated against rabies may be subject to destruction.
California	Yes	Regulation of cats - Feral cats	CA Food & Ag Code § 31752.5	Source	Defines feral cats as those exhibiting extreme fear and resistance to human contact, allowing for euthanasia or surrender to non-profits after a shortened holding period.
Colorado	Yes	Definitions – Rabies control	§ 25-4-601 § 25-4-610	Source	Owners are responsible for unvaccinated cats, and it's unlawful for such cats to roam freely.
Connecticut	Yes	Municipal control of feral cats	Conn. Gen. Stat. § 22-339d	Source	Municipalities can enact ordinances for registration of feral cat keepers and property protection. Feral cats kept in residential or commercial areas must be registered with the town's animal control officer. Feral cat keepers must sterilize and vaccinate the cat against rabies.
Delaware	Yes	Animal Care & Control Agency	§ 3013F	Source	This legislation defines a 'feral cat' as one born in the wild or descended from owned or feral cats, which cannot be socialized, or as a formerly owned cat that has been abandoned and is no longer socialized. Additionally, it defines a 'free-roaming cat caretaker' as someone providing shelter, medical care, or food to free-roaming cats without discernible owner identification, aiming to reduce colony numbers through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs. Notably, the legislation prohibits the release of such cats on public lands. Delaware’s animal cruelty laws protect all cats from abuse, whether they’re owned or unowned or live indoors or outdoors.
Florida	Yes	Lost or stray dogs and cats	§ 823.151	Source	Promotes TNR practices as a means of controlling feral cat population.
Hawaii	Yes	Relating to animal caretakers	HB409	Source	Caretakers of feral cats must register with the contracted rescue group and establish a "trap-sterilize-return" process. Rescue group responsibilities: Register caretakers of feral cats and maintain records, submit an annual report to the Department of Health.
Illinois	Yes	Animal Control Act	§ 510 ILCS 5/35 § 510 ILCS 92/25	Source	This legislation grants immunity from criminal and civil liability to municipalities, veterinarians, and caretakers involved in feral cat colonies and Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs. Additionally, residents managing such colonies may access low-cost spay-neuter programs if their TNR efforts are officially recognized by the local government. Feral cat colonies shall be permitted and feral cat caretakers shall be entitled to maintain and care for feral cats by providing food, water, shelter, medical care, and other forms of sustenance, provided that the feral cat colonies are registered with and approved by a sponsor who is registered and approved by the Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control.
Indiana	Yes	Abandonment or neglect of vertebrate animals Public Health – Mobile Homes	§ 35-46-3-7 § 16-41-27-16	Source	This statute exempts feral animals from being under a person's custody for prosecuting animal offenses. Additionally, it specifies that regulations prohibiting pets from running at large within mobile home communities do not apply to feral cats released through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs. Community cat caretakers may provide food, water, shelter, and medical care for community cats, and are bound to follow the following Community Cat Program guidelines: Trap cats for spay/neuter, ear tipping, and vaccination for rabies by a licensed veterinarian Return cats to where they were captured Provide adequate food and water every day Provide adequate shelter for the number of cats in the colony Seek assistance for any injured or ill cats Contact Indianapolis Animal Care Services to help find another caretaker if they can no longer properly care for your community cats Help community cats maintain a good neighbor status Report acts of neglect, cruelty, abandonment, or abuse directed against any cat(s) to the Mayor’s Action Center.
Kentucky	Yes	Animal control and protection	KRS 258.005 KRS 258.015	Source	In accordance with the law, an 'owner' of a cat is defined as any person who owns, keeps, or harbors a cat. This broad definition may encompass individuals caring for feral cats. As a result, rabies vaccination requirements, which typically apply to owned cats, may extend to feral cats if they are harbored or kept by individuals, thereby necessitating compliance with vaccination regulations.
Maine	Yes	Shelter provisions	MRS § 3919	Source	For cats without ID, a shelter shall hold for not less than 48 hrs; for feral cats, not less than 24 hrs, after which time the cat may be offered for sale or adoption or otherwise be humanely disposed of.
Maryland	Yes	Hunting Restrictions pertaining to dogs and cats	§ 10-413	Source	Anti‑cruelty laws protect every cat regardless of the owner. - Feeding, sheltering and/or otherwise caring for free-roaming cats shall not be deemed a public nuisance condition unless it disturbs the peace, comfort, or health of any person residing in the area. Natural Resources officers and other law enforcement officers shall kill any cat found hunting a game bird or mammal or a protected bird or mammal (any other person may destroy).
Nebraska	Yes	Feral Cat Colony Caretaker Permit Information	City of Omaha Ordinance 6-161 City of Bellevue Ordinance 6-57	Source	Caretaker permit rules for cats colonies: - Colonies cannot have more than 20 adult feral cats at an address that is zoned residential. If such a colony is composed of more than 10 adult feral cats, the permit holder must reduce the number of such cats to 10 prior to the renewal of the permit. - There can be no more than 30 adult feral cats at an address zoned commercial. If such colony is composed of more than 15 adult cats, the permit holder must reduce the number of cats to 15 prior to the renewal of the permit. - Feral Cat Colony Caretakers must have the ability and desire to actively work toward decreasing the number of feral cats in a colony through humane trap/neuter/return (TNR). - Colony caretakers must provide daily care for the animals by providing fresh food and water. - Failure to reduce numbers of cats within the colony via trap/neuter/return (TNR) can result in the revocation of one's permit.
New Jersey	Yes	Unlawful treatment of certain animals	NJS § 4:22-17.2	Source	Subsection 4:22-17.2 of the law prohibits subjecting certain animals to adverse environmental conditions for more than 30 minutes without proper shelter. However, feral cats are exempt from these regulations. Owners and custodians are held responsible for violations on their property.
New York	Yes	Definitions-Health, Animal Shelters Definitions-Public Health, Rabies	§ 17-802 § 2140	Source	“Feral cat” defined as animal with no owner, is unsocialized to humans, and has a temperament of extreme fear of and resistance to human contact. “Owner” does not apply to premises owners or occupants of property inhabited by feral cats.
North Carolina	Yes	Definitions - Rabies Destroying stray or feral animals in rabies quarantine districts	§ 130A-184 § 130A-195	Source	“Feral” is defined as an animal that is not socialized. Any peace officer or animal control officer has the right to destroy stray or feral animals running uncontrolled in quarantine areas after reasonable efforts have been to apprehend the animal. A feral cat caregiver is any individual registered to feed/water feral cats and/or feral cat colonies within the jurisdictional limits of the city, after having completed proper registration as defined by the following administrative and operational requirements: - No location established to feed/water a feral cat or feral cat colony shall be located within 100 feet of any residentially-zoned district. A standard trap-neuter-release (TNR) form shall be provided by local SPCA shelter to all feral cat caregivers so as to register the cats and shall be filed at the shelter. - Adoptable cats/kittens shall not be returned to the colony. Cats/kittens with health issues (such as rabies or feline distemper) shall not be returned to the colony. - Photographs of all feral cats/kittens shall be taken. The information shall be input into the existing SPCA records.
Ohio	Yes	Feral cats	618.19 FERAL CATS	Source	In Ohio, feral cats, defined as wild, stray, or unowned cats, are prohibited from being fed, harbored, or housed. Violation of this law is considered a minor misdemeanor, escalating to a misdemeanor of the fourth degree for repeat offenders within one year.
Oklahoma	Yes	Animal control	5-6-27: DISPOSITION OF FERAL OR VICIOUS CATS	Source	In Oklahoma, any feral or vicious cat deemed too hazardous to apprehend may be destroyed under the direction of the chief of police or animal control officer. Additionally, cat owners in city limits must pay an annual license fee, varying based on the cat's alteration status, and obtain a new license upon acquisition, valid for one year from the date of rabies vaccination.
Pennsylvania	Yes	Regulation of pets and feral animals	11 Pa. C.S. § 12410	Source	Allows cities to adopt an ordinance to prohibit and regulate the “running at large” of …cats, and feral animals.
Rhode Island	Yes	Holding At-Large or Impounded Cats	R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-22-5	Source	Provides holding period requirements and disposition options (including euthanasia) for feral cats with and without ID; allows for euthanasia of feral cats without ID prior to holding period if determined to be dangerous (at discretion of animal control, licensed vet, or shelter manager) Any person providing care or sustenance to feral cats for an uninterrupted period of sixty (60) days or longer shall be deemed the owner of said cats.
South Carolina	Yes	Rabies Control Dogs and Other Domestic Pets	§ 47-5-120 § 47-3-50	Source	In an order relating to rabies control within a community, efforts to reduce the stray and feral animal population may be undertaken. It is unlawful to allow dogs or cats to run at large. Caretakers of feral cats are exempt from any provision of law regarding the feeding of stray animals, requiring permits for the feeding of animals, requiring the confinement of cats, or limiting the number of animals a person can own, harbor, or have in their custody. A feral cat caregiver has the same right of redemption for feral cats as an owner of a pet cat, without conferring ownership of the cat on the caregiver.
South Dakota	Yes	Senate Bill 172	Senate Bill 172	Source	No person owning or responsible for the care of an animal may neglect, abandon, or mistreat the animal, except that any person may abandon a feral cat or dog for which the person assumed responsibility with the sole purpose of spaying or neutering the cat or dog.
Tennessee	Yes	Power to regulate stray animals	§ 5-1-120	Source	Gives counties the power to regulate, capture, impound, and dispose of stray dogs and cats.
Texas	Yes	Restraint, Impoundment, and Disposition of Dogs and Cats	§ 826.033	Source	Municipalities and counties may adopt ordinances to require that stray dogs or cats be declared a public nuisance, impounded, and humanely disposed of.
Utah	Yes	Community Cat Act	11-46-301 to 11-46-304	Source	This law exempts community cats from shelter holds, licensing, and feeding bans, while also excluding sponsors and caretakers from custody definitions. It mandates maintaining sterilization and vaccination records for three years and allows localities to create permit systems for community cats with notice to adjacent property owners.
Vermont	Yes	Feral animals; responsibility	20 V.S.A. § 541a	Source	No requirement for a person to be responsible for a feral animal that takes up a residence in a building (other than the person’s home) even if the person occasionally feeds the animal.
Virginia	Yes	Definitions – Comprehensive Animal Care Confinement & Disposition of Animals	§ 3.2-6500 § 3.2-6546	Source	Feral cat included in the definition of companion animal. Feral cats can be euthanized after a hold period of not less than three days.
West Virginia	Yes	West Virginia Spay Neuter Assistance Program	§ 19-20C-1	Source	Grant program that provides grants to nonprofit spay neuter organizations and programs in the state. The purpose of this program is to have more dogs and cats sterilized, thereby reducing shelter populations and costs, euthanasia rates and threats to public health and safety from rabies and other problems posed by the growing population of stray, feral and abandoned dogs and cats.
Wyoming	Yes	Definitions of wildlife Taking predatory animals Animals running at large	§ 23-1-101 § 23-3-103 §11-31-301	Source	Stray cats fall under definition of a “predatory animal”. Predatory animals may be taken without a license in any manner at any time (subject to a few exceptions). Animals running at large may be declared a public nuisance.
Alabama	No
Georgia	No
Idaho	No				Cats are allowed to roam freely even on private property. Responsibility falls on the property owner unless the county or city they reside in has their own specific ordinances for feral cat care.
Iowa	No
Kansas	No
Louisiana	No
Massachusetts	No
Minnesota	No
Mississippi	No
Missouri	No
Montana	No
New Hampshire	No
New Mexico	No
North Dakota	No
Oregon	No
Washington	No
Wisconsin	No
Arizona	Covered by Animal Cruelty Law	Animal Cruelty	ARS 13-2910A	Source	Arizona's animal cruelty laws prohibit killing feral cats. However, you can trap feral cats and take them to an animal shelter to be adopted or euthanized.
Michigan	Covered by Animal Cruelty Law	750.50b Animal and companion animal defined; prohibited acts; violation; penalty; consecutive terms; exceptions.	MCL - Section 750.50b	Source	House Bill 4596 of 2019, a bill to promote community cat programs, would have established and promoted community cat programs. However, the bill failed to pass into law. Feral cats do still enjoy broad protections under existing animal cruelty laws established in Section 750.50b of Michigan's legal code.
Nevada	Covered by Animal Cruelty Law	Animal cruelty statute	NRS 574.100	Source	Cats without identification are considered feral and are rarely protected under state law. Animal cruelty statute only mentions that prohibition against abandonment does not apply to feral cats

When it comes to feral cat populations across the United States, the legal landscape varies significantly from state to state. While some states have established laws and regulations to address the welfare of feral cats, others lack specific legislation on the matter.

In states like California, Florida, and Georgia, there are currently no statewide laws addressing feral cat populations. Without clear legal guidelines, individuals caring for feral cats may face challenges in protecting and managing colonies, as well as potential obstacles in dealing with animal control agencies or private citizens.

On the other hand, states like Connecticut, Delaware, and Maryland have implemented laws to protect feral cats and regulate their care. These laws may require caretakers to register feral cat colonies, provide necessary care such as food, water, and shelter, and adhere to specific guidelines to ensure the well-being of the animals.

Additionally, intentional harm or killing of feral cats is considered a criminal offense in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, regardless of ownership status. This underscores the importance of respecting and safeguarding the welfare of feral cat populations, even in states without explicit legal protections in place.

While the legal framework surrounding feral cat populations may vary across states, one thing remains consistent: the need for compassion and responsible stewardship in managing these vulnerable animal communities. By promoting humane treatment and proactive measures such as trap-neuter-return programs, communities can work towards ensuring the well-being of feral cats while also addressing concerns related to public health and safety.

Feral Cat Laws by State 2025

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