State rankings
Feral Cat Laws by State
Feral Cat Laws by State: compare 50 US states on 5 metrics.
EnvironmentLaw50 states · 5 metricsUpdated Jun 6, 2025Original page
15 sources
- Committee hears testimony on bill to set stray-cat holding rules - Citizen Portal
- What are the laws in Arizona about letting a cat roam outside? - DialaVet
- Feral cat legal issue - Michigan State University College of Law
- Feral cat law - CT.gov
- H.B. NO.2593 - Hawaii.gov
- Feral cat information - Humane Society of the Palouse
- Community cats - Indy.gov
- Free roaming cats - The Beltsville News
- Community Cat Program - Nebraska Humane Society
- Tips for community cats - Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals
- S. 640 Bill - South Carolina State House
- Bill to Protect Community Cats - Alley Cat Allies
- Senate Bill No. 6 - West Virginia Legislature
- Arizona Animal Cruelty Laws - Jackson White Law
- Community Cat Legislation Table - Humane Society of Huron Valley
Feral Cat Laws Exist
3 values across 50 entries
Data
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34 states
 Alaska | Definitions Fish and Game | AS 16.05.940 | https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/20?Hsid=HB1001A |
 Arizona | Animal Cruelty | ARS 13-2910A, SB1198 | https://www.salwinlaw.com/criminal-defense/other-crimes/cruelty-to-animals-ars-13-2910/ |
 Arkansas | Definitions - Public Health & Welfare, Animals | § 20-19-302, § 20-19-304 | https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/2020/title-20/subtitle-2/chapter-19/subchapter-3/section-20-19-302/ https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/2020/title-20/subtitle-2/chapter-19/subchapter-3/section-20-19-304/ |
 California | Regulation of cats - Feral cats | CA Food & Ag Code § 31752.5 | https://casetext.com/statute/california-codes/california-food-and-agricultural-code/division-145-regulation-of-cats/chapter-1-regulation-of-cats-generally/section-317525-feral-cats |
 Colorado | Definitions – Rabies control | § 25-4-601, § 25-4-610 | https://casetext.com/statute/colorado-revised-statutes/title-25-public-health-and-environment/disease-control/article-4-disease-control/part-6-rabies-control/section-25-4-601-definitions https://casetext.com/statute/colorado-revised-statutes/title-25-public-health-and-environm… |
 Connecticut | Municipal control of feral cats | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 22-339d | https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_435.htm |
 Delaware | Animal Care & Control Agency | § 3013F | https://law.justia.com/codes/delaware/title-16/chapter-30f/subchapter-ii/section-3013f/ |
 Florida | Lost or stray dogs and cats | § 823.151 | https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2021/0823.151 |
 Illinois | Animal Control Act | § 510 ILCS 5/35, § 510 ILCS 92/25 | https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=1704&ChapterID=41&Print=True https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2746&ChapterID=41&Print=True |
 Indiana | Abandonment or neglect of vertebrate animals| Public Health – Mobile Homes | § 35-46-3-7, § 16-41-27-16 | https://apat.memberclicks.net/assets/docs/AnimalAbuseProsecution/StateCrueltyLaws/Jun17Updates/Indiana-6-17.pdf https://casetext.com/statute/indiana-code/title-16-health/article-41-public-health-measures-for-the-prevention-and-control-of-disease/chapter-27-health-sanitation-an… |
 Kentucky | Animal control and protection | KRS 258.005, KRS 258.015 | https://www.google.com/url?q=https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id%3D49352&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1715871380482540&usg=AOvVaw05eyFlwn1Fx7vgYyc8dD9x https://www.google.com/url?q=https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id%3D48638&sa=D&so… |
 Maine | Shelter provisions | MRS § 3919 | https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/7/title7sec3919-A.pdf |
 Maryland | Hunting Restrictions pertaining to dogs and cats | § 10-413 | https://www.google.com/url?q=https://law.justia.com/codes/maryland/2005/gcj/10-413.html%23:~:text%3D%25C2%25A7%252010%252D413.,hostage%2520and%2520barricade%2520communications%2520specialist.&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1715871440456453&usg=AOvVaw2NY2saE_WK6bJ8-E5kDLCv |
 Nebraska | Feral Cat Colony Caretaker Permit Information | — | — |
 Nevada | Animal cruelty statute | NRS 574.100 | https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-574.html |
 New Jersey | Unlawful treatment of certain animals | NJS § 4:22-17.2 | https://casetext.com/statute/new-jersey-statutes/title-4-agriculture-and-domestic-animals/chapter-422/section-422-172-unlawful-treatment-of-certain-animals?__cf_chl_rt_tk=lA.ZSxNP2c.VrxVzOFlt9fw4JWH3Vy0Mr5vecMHXrlM-1715867961-0.0.1.1-1685 |
 New York | Definitions-Health, Animal Shelters Definitions-Public Health, Rabies | § 17-802, § 2140 | https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/newyorkcity/latest/NYCadmin/0-0-0-204700 https://nysba.org/legalease-animal-law-in-new-york-state/ |
 North Carolina | Definitions - Rabies| Destroying stray or feral animals in rabies quarantine districts | § 130A-184, § 130A-195 | https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_130A/GS_130A-184.pdf&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1715871665856778&usg=AOvVaw1xQe9GtOuuy3wROifHndUz https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HT… |
 Ohio | Feral cats | 618.19 FERAL CATS | https://www.google.com/url?q=https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/pickerington/latest/pickerington_oh/0-0-0-46738&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1715871771877551&usg=AOvVaw2d9pjl-7h0UlpyL07bMEcR |
 Oklahoma | Animal control | 5-6-27: DISPOSITION OF FERAL OR VICIOUS CATS | https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/mcloudok/latest/mcloud_ok/0-0-0-6370 |
 Oregon | Animal cruelty statute | ORS 167.310, House Bill 3604 | https://www.oregonhumane.org/get-involved/animal-legislation/current-legislation/ |
 Pennsylvania | Regulation of pets and feral animals | 11 Pa. C.S. § 12410 | https://casetext.com/statute/pennsylvania-statutes/consolidated-statutes/title-11-pacs-cities/part-v-third-class-cities/chapter-124-corporate-powers/section-12410-regulation-of-pets-and-feral-animals |
 Rhode Island | Holding At-Large or Impounded Cats | R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-22-5 | https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2022/title-4/chapter-4-22/ |
 South Carolina | Rabies Control| Dogs and Other Domestic Pets | § 47-5-120, § 47-3-50 | https://law.justia.com/codes/south-carolina/title-47/chapter-5/section-47-5-120/ https://law.justia.com/codes/south-carolina/title-47/chapter-5/section-47-5-120/ |
 South Dakota | Senate Bill 172 | Senate Bill 172 | https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Bill/25199/264447?Year=2024#:~:text=No%20person%20owning%20or%20responsible,is%20a%20Class%201%20misdemeanor. |
 Tennessee | Power to regulate stray animals | § 5-1-120 | https://casetext.com/statute/tennessee-code/title-5-counties/chapter-1-general-provisions/part-1-counties-generally/section-5-1-120-power-to-regulate-stray-animals |
 Texas | Restraint, Impoundment, and Disposition of Dogs and Cats | § 826.033 | https://casetext.com/statute/texas-codes/health-and-safety-code/title-10-health-and-safety-of-animals/chapter-826-rabies/subchapter-d-registration-and-restraint-of-dogs-and-cats |
 Utah | Community Cat Act | 11-46-301 to 11-46-304 | https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title11/Chapter46/11-46-S303.html |
 Vermont | Feral animals; responsibility | 20 V.S.A. § 541a | https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/10/022A/00541a |
 Virginia | Definitions – Comprehensive Animal Care|Confinement & Disposition of Animals | § 3.2-6500, § 3.2-6546 | https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title3.2/chapter65/section3.2-6500/ https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title3.2/chapter65/section3.2-6546/ |
 Washington | Animal cruelty statute | RCW 16.52.205 | https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=16.52.205 |
 West Virginia | West Virginia Spay Neuter Assistance Program | § 19-20C-1 | https://code.wvlegislature.gov/19-20C-1/ |
 Wisconsin | Animal cruelty statute | Statutes Chapter 951 | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/951 |
 Wyoming | Definitions of wildlife, Taking predatory animals+1 | § 23-1-101, § 23-3-103+1 | https://codes.findlaw.com/wy/title-23-game-and-fish/wy-st-sect-23-1-101/#:~:text=Definitions%20of%20wildlife&text=(B)%20Until%20the%20date%20gray,%E2%80%9Cpredatory%20animal%E2%80%9D%20includes%20wolves. https://law.justia.com/codes/wyoming/2022/title-23/chapter-3/article-1/se… |
Quick answers
- Where does this feral cat laws by state data come from?
- Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Committee hears testimony on bill to set stray-cat holding rules - Citizen Portal; What are the laws in Arizona about letting a cat roam outside? - DialaVet; Feral cat legal issue - Michigan State University College of Law; Feral cat law - CT.gov.