Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 253, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 2005.
For the purposes of this division, each member of a litter of kittens, weaned or unweaned, shall be treated as an individual animal.
Chapter 1 - Regulation of Cats Generally
California Food and Agricultural Code — §§ 31751-31754
Sections (12)
Amended (as added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 747, Sec. 6) by Stats. 2004, Ch. 253, Sec. 7. Effective January 1, 2005.
(a)(1) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), no public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group shall sell or give away to a new owner any cat that has not been spayed or neutered.
(2)For the purposes of this section, a “rescue group” is a for-profit or not-for-profit entity, or a collaboration of individuals with at least one of its purposes being the sale or placement of cats that have been removed from a public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, or humane shelter or that have been previously owned by any person other than the original breeder of that cat.
(b)(1) If a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state certifies that a cat is too sick or injured to be spayed or neutered, or that it would otherwise be detrimental to the health of the cat to be spayed or neutered, the adopter or purchaser shall pay the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group a deposit of not less than forty dollars ($40), and not more than seventy-five dollars ($75).
(2)The entity shall establish the amount of the deposit at the level it determines is necessary to encourage the spaying or neutering of cats.
(3)The deposit shall be temporary, and shall only be retained until the cat is healthy enough to be spayed or neutered, as certified by a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state.
(4)The cat shall be spayed or neutered within 14 business days of that certification.
(5)The adopter or purchaser shall obtain written proof of spaying or neutering from the veterinarian performing the operation.
(6)If the adopter or purchaser presents proof of spaying or neutering to the entity from which the cat was obtained within 30 business days of obtaining the proof, the adopter or purchaser shall receive a full refund of the deposit.
(c)Public animal control agencies or shelters, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelters, humane society shelters, and rescue groups may enter into cooperative agreements with each other and with veterinarians in lieu of requiring spaying and neutering deposits to carry out this section.
(d)Any funds from unclaimed deposits made pursuant to this section, as it read on January 1, 1999, and any funds from deposits unclaimed after January 1, 2000, may be expended only for programs to spay or neuter cats and dogs, including agreements with a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals or a humane society or licensed veterinarian, to operate a program to spay or neuter cats and dogs.
(e)This section only applies to a county that has a population exceeding 100,000 persons as of January 1, 2000, and to cities within that county.
Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 205, Sec. 4. (SB 245) Effective January 1, 2020.
(a)A public animal shelter shall not charge an adoption fee for a cat if the person adopting the cat presents to the public animal shelter a current and valid driver’s license or identification card with the word “VETERAN” printed on its face pursuant to Section 12811 of the Vehicle Code.
(b)A public animal
shelter may limit the number of cats adopted from that public animal shelter pursuant to this section to one cat each six-month period.
Added by Stats. 1973, Ch. 361.
Whenever a city or county requires cat license tags, any such tag shall be issued for one-half or less of the fee required for a cat, if a certificate is presented from a licensed veterinarian that the cat has been spayed or neutered.
Added by Stats. 1973, Ch. 361.
Any licensed cattery may be exempted pursuant to regulation or ordinance from any requirement to obtain a license tag for each cat within the cattery.
Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 253, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 2005.
(a)The owner of a nonspayed or unneutered cat that is impounded once by a city or county animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or humane society, shall be fined thirty-five dollars ($35) on the first occurrence, fifty dollars ($50) on the second occurrence, and one hundred dollars ($100) for the third or subsequent occurrence. These fines are for unneutered impounded animals only, and are not in lieu of any fines or impound fees imposed by any individual city, county, public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, or humane society shelter.
(b)An animal control officer, humane officer, police officer, peace officer, or any agency authorized to enforce the Penal Code may write citations with a civil penalty stated in an amount corresponding to the violation as provided in subdivision (a). The fines shall be paid to the local municipality or public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, or humane society shelter. Any funds collected under this section shall be expended for the purpose of humane education, programs for low cost spaying and neutering of cats, and any additional costs incurred by the animal shelter in the administration of the requirements of this division.
(c)Local ordinances concerning the adoption or placement procedures of any public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group shall be at least as restrictive as this division.
(d)This section applies to each county and cities within each county, regardless of population.
(e)No city or county, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or humane society is subject to any civil action by the owner of a cat that is spayed or neutered in accordance with this section.
Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 96, Sec. 2. (AB 1988) Effective January 1, 2025.
(a)The required holding period for a stray cat impounded pursuant to this division shall be six business days, not including the day of impoundment, except as follows:
(1)If the public or private shelter has made the cat available for owner redemption on one weekday evening until at least 7 p.m. or one weekend day, the holding period shall be four business days, not including the day of impoundment.
(2)If the public or private shelter has fewer than three full-time employees or is not open during all regular weekday business hours, and if it has established a procedure to enable owners to reclaim their cats by appointment at a mutually agreeable time when the public or private shelter would
otherwise be closed, the holding period shall be four business days, not including the day of impoundment.
(b)(1) Except as provided in Sections 17006 and 31752.5 and paragraph (2), stray cats shall be held for owner redemption during the first three days of the holding period, not including the day of impoundment, and shall be available for owner redemption or adoption for the remainder of the holding period.
(2)(A) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a kitten under eight weeks of age that is reasonably believed to be unowned may be available immediately for adoption beginning on the day on which the kitten is seized, taken up, or impounded, through the entire holding period.
(B)This paragraph does not supersede or otherwise limit the requirements in Section 31751.3 or
Sections 31760 to 31762, inclusive, to ensure that a kitten sold, given away, or transferred to a new owner is or will be spayed or neutered.
(c)(1) Except as provided in Section 17006, a stray cat that is impounded pursuant to this division shall, before the euthanasia of that animal, be released to a nonprofit, as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, animal rescue, or adoption organization if requested by the organization before the scheduled euthanasia of that animal. In addition to a required spay or neuter deposit, the public or private shelter, at its discretion, may assess a fee, not to exceed the standard adoption fee, for animals adopted or released. The public or private shelter may enter into cooperative agreements with an animal rescue or adoption organization.
(2)A kitten under eight weeks of age that is reasonably
believed to be unowned and is impounded in a public or private shelter may, before the euthanasia of that animal, be made immediately available for release to a nonprofit, as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, animal rescue, or adoption organization if requested by the organization.
(d)During the holding period required by this section and before the adoption or euthanasia of a cat impounded pursuant to this division, a public or private shelter shall scan the cat for a microchip that identifies the owner of that cat and shall make reasonable efforts to contact the owner and notify the owner that the cat is impounded and is available for redemption.
(e)As used in this division, a “business day” includes any day that a public or private shelter is open to the public for at least four hours, excluding state holidays.
Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 549, Sec. 2. (AB 2723) Effective January 1, 2023.
(a)(1) Except as provided in subdivision (b), a public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group shall not release a cat to an owner seeking to reclaim it, or adopt out, sell, or give away a cat to a new owner, unless either of the following conditions is met:
(A) The cat is microchipped with current information on the owner reclaiming the cat or new owner receiving the cat, as applicable, and the owner or new owner is registered with the microchip registry company as the primary owner of the cat. The public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of
cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group shall not be registered with a microchip registry company as the primary owner of the cat. Upon adoption, sale, giving away, or transfer of ownership, the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group shall provide information on the transference of ownership, including microchip company information, the microchip number and any other relevant identifiers, and any other information needed for an owner or new owner to register themselves as the microchip’s primary contact, as applicable.
(B) If the agency, shelter, or group does not have microchipping capability on location, the agency, shelter, or group first obtains from the owner reclaiming the cat or new owner receiving
the cat an agreement that requires the owner or new owner to present to the agency, shelter, or group, within the next 30 days, proof that the cat is microchipped as described in subparagraph (A).
(2)If the agency, shelter, or group does not have microchipping capability on location, the agency, shelter, or group shall make a good faith effort to maintain a list of local and regional free or discounted regional microchipping services and provide that information to the owner or new owner.
(3)An agency, shelter, or group may require proof that the cat is microchipped pursuant to paragraph (1) before releasing, adopting out, selling, or giving away the cat. If a cat has a preexisting microchip or there is reasonable proof of ownership, the agency, shelter, or group shall
document and retain a record of all efforts made to contact the microchip’s primary registrant or other demonstrated owner for at least two years.
(4)For purposes of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1), an owner reclaiming a cat or new owner receiving a cat is not required to register the cat’s microchip number with a microchip registry company that will use, without the owner’s or new owner’s consent, the personal information of the owner or new owner for purposes other than to reunite the owner or new owner with the cat.
(b)(1) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), this section does not require a cat to be microchipped if a licensed veterinarian certifies in writing that the cat is medically unfit for the microchipping procedure because the cat has a physical
condition that would be substantially aggravated by the procedure.
(2)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), this section does not require a cat to be microchipped if the agency, shelter, or group receives a signed form from the owner reclaiming the cat or new owner receiving the cat that states that the cost of microchipping would impose an economic hardship for the owner or new owner.
(c)(1) An agency, shelter, or group that violates this section on or after January 1, 2022, is subject to a civil penalty of one hundred dollars ($100).
(2)Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 31401) of Division 14 and Section 9 do not apply to a violation of this section.
(3)An agency, shelter, or group that does not have microchipping capability on location is not subject to the civil penalty described in this subdivision upon obtaining the agreement described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a).
(d)This section does not apply to a cat that is temporarily housed under an emergency evacuation order.
Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 567, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2001.
(a)Upon relinquishment of a cat to a public or private shelter, the owner of that cat shall present sufficient identification to establish his or her ownership of the cat and shall sign a statement that he or she is the lawful owner of the cat.
(b)Any person who provides false information pursuant to this subdivision about his or her ownership of the cat shall be liable to the true owner of the cat in the amount of one thousand dollars ($1,000).
Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 7, Sec. 9. (AB 1553) Effective January 1, 2020.
(a)The Legislature finds and declares the following:
(1)Domestic cats’ temperaments range from completely docile indoor pets to completely unsocialized outdoor cats that avoid all contact with humans.
(2)“Feral cats” are cats with temperaments that are completely unsocialized, although frightened or injured tame pet cats may appear to be feral.
(3)Some people care for or own feral cats.
(4)Feral cats pose particular safety hazards for animal
shelter employees.
(5)It is cruel to keep feral cats caged for long periods of time; however, it is not always easy to distinguish a feral cat from a frightened tame cat.
(b)For the purposes of this section, a “feral cat” is defined as a cat without owner identification of any kind whose usual and consistent temperament is extreme fear and resistance to contact with people. A feral cat is totally unsocialized to people.
(c)Notwithstanding Section 31752, if an apparently feral cat has not been reclaimed by its owner or caretaker within the first three days of the required holding period, animal shelter personnel qualified to verify the temperament of the animal shall verify whether it is feral or tame by using a standardized protocol. If the cat is determined to be docile or a frightened or difficult
tame cat, the cat shall be held for the entire required holding period specified in Section 31752. If the cat is determined to be truly feral, the cat may be euthanized or relinquished to a nonprofit, as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, animal adoption organization that agrees to the spaying or neutering of the cat if it has not already been spayed or neutered. In addition to any required spay or neuter deposit, the animal shelter, at its discretion, may assess a fee, not to exceed the standard adoption fee, for the animal released.
Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 96, Sec. 3. (AB 1988) Effective January 1, 2025.
A rabbit, guinea pig, hamster, potbellied pig, bird, lizard, snake, turtle, or tortoise that is legally allowed as personal property and that is impounded in a public or private shelter shall be held for the same period of time, under the same requirements of care, and with the same opportunities for redemption and adoption by new owners or nonprofit, as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, animal rescue, or adoption organizations as provided for cats and dogs. The public or private shelter may enter into cooperative agreements with animal rescue or adoption organizations regarding rabbits that are equivalent to those cooperative agreements authorized in Section 31108 regarding dogs and Section 31752 regarding cats. Section 17006 shall also apply to these animals. In addition to a required spay or neuter deposit, the public or
private shelter, at its discretion, may assess a fee, not to exceed the standard adoption fee, for animals adopted by new owners or released to nonprofit animal rescue or adoption organizations pursuant to this section.
Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 96, Sec. 4. (AB 1988) Effective January 1, 2025.
(a)Except as provided in Section 17006, an animal relinquished by the purported owner that is of a species impounded by public or private shelters shall be held for the same holding periods, with the same requirements of care, applicable to stray dogs and cats in Sections 31108 and 31752, and shall be available for owner redemption or adoption for the entire holding period.
(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), kittens or puppies relinquished by the purported owner, or brought in by any other person with authority to relinquish them, to public or private shelters, may be available immediately for adoption, or made immediately available for release to a nonprofit, as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code,
animal rescue, or adoption organization if requested by the organization.