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by Jenniferocious on January 4th, 2008

Jenniferocious

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What are the laws on cat ownership in California? Are cats allowed to roam freely, or is there a law/code requiring that cats be confined to the owner's property? Any "leash law" or similar item that applies to cats?

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Answers. 7 helpful answers below.

  • by Roger Kovaciny on January 4th, 2008

    Roger Kovaciny

    I wouldn't know, but cats have no business being outdoors. They can't see far enough to avoid being hit by cars, and all too many motorists have had serious or even fatal accidents swerving to avoid a cat. (Note to all motorists: Brake, but don't swerve. If you don't care about killing yourself, consider the other cars on the road. It's only a cat. It can be replaced for free, because there are already so many being euthanized.)

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  • by Galeanda on January 5th, 2008

    Galeanda

    Unless there are specific city laws, cats can go wherever they choose because that's their nature. They are seen as being of a different nature than dogs even though they are still considered personal property.

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  • by SgtThor on July 21st, 2009

    SgtThor

    Cats are "free roamers" under California law. They tend to go where they want. There are no leash laws for cats.

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  • by Heidi1 on July 15th, 2008

    Heidi1

    Yeah i live in california and i had a kitty that was an indoor/outdoor cat and one day we found him in our naigbors part of the yard dead... i think he was poisond because it he didnt have blood on him or anything he was jsut lying there looked like he was sleeping but sadly wasnt, he was only 1 year old :( ... so since then i do let my other cats go outside because they are cats and thats what they do but with my supervision. wouldnt want some psycho to kill another one of my kittys so i keep a verry close watch. And to Roger Kovaciny, i understand that if you live in or near a verry busy street that you shouldnt alow them to go outside as often because they are put in danger in that case but if you live in a residential area i dont see a problem with them being outside just keep a close watch on them.

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  • by nickaloo on April 29th, 2011

    nickaloo

    These are Laws for Northern California, so I imagine they apply throughout California, doesn't look like theirs much protection for Wildlife or to Our Yards.

    6.08.020 - Keeping of animals.

    A.

    No person shall keep any animal, fowl or bird, wild or domestic, other than cats, dogs, canaries or birds of the psittacinae family, within thirty-five (35) feet of any residence or dwelling house or other building used for the habitation of human beings or within one hundred (100) feet from any school, hospital or similar institution.

    B.

    No such animal or fowl shall be kept or maintained in any yard, coop or building which is in a foul or unsanitary condition.
    6.08.050- Nuisances designated.
    Strays. No owner or possessor of any animal shall permit it to stray from the premises where such animal is kept. It is unlawful for the owner or possessor to permit such animal to enter upon the land of another without the permission of the owner or possessor of such land. Any such animal is a nuisance. This subsection does not apply to livestock on the open range or to domestic cats.

    6.08.090 - Impoundment.

    Animal control may impound any animal found or kept in violation of the provisions of this title, or found to be a public nuisance or determined to be injured or diseased. Owners of dogs or cats may voluntarily impound their animals with animal control and shall pay a fee for such impounding. The owner of any impounded animal is liable for the cost of the impoundment whether or not the owner redeems the animal.

    Looks like the problem is once again, going to be swept under the carpet, so the best we can do is to educate others and try to implement and suggest new ordinances for cats as well as dogs and other pets, fairly.

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  • by Nepenthea on September 8th, 2011

    Nepenthea

    Laws regarding dogs & cats depend on the County you live in, as well as the city. The local Humane Society can tell you. Rabies shots are routinely required on an on-going basis. Spaying & neutering are also usually required. Cats are free to roam except usually by apartment complexes renters. Dogs are usually to be leashed. Also to the person who wrote about cats being non-native, California has wild cats and mountain lions. Don't ascribe all injuries to domestic cats. Raccoons,and possums will attack small animals. My cats are fully vaccinated, ( against leukemia, too)fixed and let out only during the day when I'm home. They eat grass and lie in the sun. My 23 yr-old and 22 yr-old cats just died naturally at home. We humans are also "non-native" usually. Giving the ancient history of cats is like saying the Italians shouldn't eat tomato sauce on pasta because tomatoes came from the Americas originally and pasta from China.

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  • by nickaloo on April 29th, 2011

    nickaloo

    Cats do not belong outdoors. I grew up with one cat that I rescued as a child, she was neutered and lived for 17 years. She was kept indoors and was spoiled, loved and very happy.
    I have neighbors now who let their cats out and they go wherever they choose. I see them in spring time with small baby birds in their mouths, small baby rabbits, squirrels and whatever else they can torture. They don't eat them, they torture them. Also, my dog is a descendant of the wolf and wolves are free roamers, so what is it with cats? I also rescued wildlife for years and almost every single injury of wildlife was cause by cats. Almost all baby birds and small mammals die because cats carry more disease than all wildlife put together and more than dogs. The neighbors cats poop in my yard, dig holes, have destroyed my squash and have killed the green beans with their urinating on my plants. When I am planting, I find cat poop all over my hands. They try to klll the birds that I feed, the frogs that live in my yard as well as the many varities of lizards. The neighbor simply says "it's their nature." That is a very poor excuse to allow the killing of billions of birds and small mammals! In addition, cats are non-native species to the USA as well. They originated in Egypt. They have killed so many mammals and birds in Greece that all Native Wildlife lives in Zoos! I have had it and so have others. IF you want to begin creating laws locally, please contact http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/cats/index.html
    The time has come for the laws to change. Australia protects their wildlife and neighborhoods and have long ago adopted laws to do so. Cats should be registered, just as my dog is registered. Dogs are far less of a threat to our wildlife than Cats, as well.

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