Feral Cat Laws by State 2025

State
Feral Cat Laws Exist
Legislation Title
Legal Statute
Legal Source
Additional Details
Alaska Flag
AlaskaYes
  • Definitions Fish and Game
  • AS 16.05.940
Source
  • Feral cats are defined as "Game", hence - allowed to be hunted.
Arkansas Flag
ArkansasYes
  • 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 Flag
CaliforniaYes
  • 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 Flag
ColoradoYes
  • 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 Flag
ConnecticutYes
  • 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 Flag
DelawareYes
  • 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 Flag
FloridaYes
  • Lost or stray dogs and cats
  • § 823.151
Source
  • Promotes TNR practices as a means of controlling feral cat population.
Hawaii Flag
HawaiiYes
  • 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 Flag
IllinoisYes
  • 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 Flag
IndianaYes
  • 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 Flag
KentuckyYes
  • 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 Flag
MaineYes
  • 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 Flag
MarylandYes
  • 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 Flag
NebraskaYes
  • 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 Flag
New JerseyYes
  • 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 Flag
New YorkYes
  • 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 Flag
North CarolinaYes
  • 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 Flag
OhioYes
  • 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 Flag
OklahomaYes
  • 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 Flag
PennsylvaniaYes
  • 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 Flag
Rhode IslandYes
  • 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 Flag
South CarolinaYes
  • 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 Flag
South DakotaYes
  • 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 Flag
TennesseeYes
  • 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 Flag
TexasYes
  • 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 Flag
UtahYes
  • 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 Flag
VermontYes
  • 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 Flag
VirginiaYes
  • 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 Flag
West VirginiaYes
  • 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 Flag
WyomingYes
  • 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 Flag
AlabamaNo
Georgia Flag
GeorgiaNo
Idaho Flag
IdahoNo
  • 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 Flag
IowaNo
Kansas Flag
KansasNo
Louisiana Flag
LouisianaNo
Massachusetts Flag
MassachusettsNo
Minnesota Flag
MinnesotaNo
Mississippi Flag
MississippiNo
Missouri Flag
MissouriNo
Montana Flag
MontanaNo
New Hampshire Flag
New HampshireNo
New Mexico Flag
New MexicoNo
North Dakota Flag
North DakotaNo
Oregon Flag
OregonNo
Washington Flag
WashingtonNo
Wisconsin Flag
WisconsinNo
Arizona Flag
ArizonaCovered 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 Flag
MichiganCovered 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 Flag
NevadaCovered 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
  • All 50 states have laws against cruelty to animals. However, such laws may allow the hunting and/or culling of wild or feral animals as long as it is done in a humane manner.
  • State-level feral cat regulations are often supplemented by additional regulations at the county, municipal, or local level. It is advisable to seek additional information from local authorities to understand specific local guidelines regarding the management of feral cats.
  • In the absence of a state or local feral cat law, courts and juries may not be willing to assign rights or responsibilities to feral cat caretakers. It is possible, then, that individuals who care for feral cats in these places would not be required to comply with any of the requirements imposed on animal owners, nor would they be responsible for any damages caused by the animals’ behavior.
  • Further, feral cat caretakers in such jurisdictions may have a difficult time protecting feral cat colonies from animal control agencies and the actions of private citizens.
  • Numerous local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play a vital role in managing and assisting with feral cat populations across various states.
  • The rules and regulations provided for Nebraska are based on the ordinances from Omaha and Bellevue, and may not apply to other parts of the state.