Cat Licenses

Sacramento City Code tit. 9, ch. 9.44, art. IV

in effect

Sacramento City Code § 9.44.430 License-Required.

9.44.430 License-Required. A. It is unlawful for any person to own, harbor or keep within the limits of the city a cat, over the age of four months, without first obtaining from the city a license authorizing the keeping of such cat within the city. B. It is unlawful for any person to breed an unaltered cat within the limits of the city while the cat is unlicensed. C. It is unlawful for any person to own, harbor or keep within the city any cat over the age of four months that has not been sterilized, unless such person holds an unaltered license, unaltered license with reduced fee, or is otherwise exempted as set forth in subsection G of this section. D. A valid license issued pursuant to this section to one owner may be transferred to a new owner for a transfer fee in the amount established by resolution of the city council. E. Whenever a license tag is lost, stolen or damaged, the owner shall apply for and obtain a replacement license from animal care services upon payment of the replacement fee. F. Any owner of an unaltered cat that meets all of the following criteria for each unaltered cat shall annually pay a reduced unaltered license fee upon written proof on an annual basis that the owner meets the following criteria: 1. Register each cat with the International Cat Association, the Cat Fanciers Association, or other valid registry approved by the animal care services division; 2. Be a registered participant in at least one event sanctioned by a national registry and approved by the animal care services division within the previous twelve (12) month period from the date of issuance of the license or a showing that the cat has achieved at any time a title from a purebred cat registry. In the event that an owner can not show proof that the animal has been shown in the previous twelve (12) month period, the department shall have the discretion to determine whether this subsection has been met; and 3. Does not breed the cat during the time the animal holds a reduced unaltered license. It is unlawful for the owner or any person to breed the cat during the time the animal holds a reduced unaltered license. This does not preclude the owner from obtaining an unaltered license at the full rate for the year the owner intends to breed the animal. G. The following are exempt as specified: Cats that are certified in writing by a licensed veterinarian as not being suitable subjects for sterilizing due to health or age reasons will be assessed the altered license fee. A veterinarian shall specify in writing how long the animal is not a suitable subject for sterilization. If the animal at a later date is determined by the veterinarian to be suitable for sterilization then the appropriate fee will be assessed. (Ord. 2007-019 § 1; prior code § 6.11.136)

Sacramento City Code § 9.44.440 Fees-Waiver.

9.44.440 Fees-Waiver. A. Fees and License Periods. 1. A license fee in the amount established by resolution of the city council shall be collected by the animal care services manager, other persons authorized by the animal care services manager, other authorized city department, or other persons authorized by the city manager, from the owner of each cat, male or female, over the age of four months, located within the city. 2. The license period is a maximum one year or three years, commencing on the first day of the month the cat receives a rabies vaccination and expiring the last day of the month immediately preceding the month during which the vaccination will become invalid. 3. License fees shall become due and payable on the date of expiration. 4. Upon presentation of proper proof of spaying or neutering certified in writing by a licensed veterinarian, the license fee for such spayed or neutered cat shall not exceed one-half of the basic fee. 5. A delinquency fee set by resolution of the city council shall be payable in addition to the license fee whenever a license is not renewed on or before the first business day after expiration. 6. Any person who acquires ownership, custody or control of any cat not currently licensed pursuant to provisions of this chapter shall be immediately liable for the payment of the license fee and shall be liable for a delinquency fee as set by the city council if the license is not obtained within thirty (30) days. 7. No license shall be issued for a current license period until such time as there is paid an amount equal to all delinquencies and fees outstanding for the prior license period in addition to the fee for the current period. B. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A of this section, the animal care services manager is hereby authorized to waive delinquency fees for up to one month per year, in order to encourage citizens with unlicensed cats to obtain licenses. The animal care services manager shall cause this licensing amnesty program to be publicized throughout the city. (Ord. 2007-019 §2; prior code § 6.11.137)

Sacramento City Code § 9.44.450 Vaccination certificate required prior to license.

9.44.450 Vaccination certificate required prior to license. A cat license shall not be issued for any cat unless and until the owner of the cat presents to the animal care services manager or other authorized city department a valid certificate of vaccination issued by a licensed veterinarian, or as provided through vaccination clinics, with an approved anti-rabies vaccine approved by the United States Department of Agriculture. (Ord. 2007-019 § 3; prior code § 6.11.138)

Sacramento City Code § 9.44.460 Application-Issuance-Identification tag to be issued.

9.44.460 Application-Issuance-Identification tag to be issued. The person owning or having control of the cat shall furnish to the animal care services division or other authorized city department a description of the cat sufficient for identification, which description shall be entered in a record kept by the animal care services manager for that purpose. A metallic or plastic identification tag having a number corresponding with the registration upon the cat shall be issued to the owner of the cat. Upon such registration, a license certificate shall be issued to the applicant. (Ord. 2010-021 § 12; Ord. 2007-019 § 4; prior code § 6.11.139)

Sacramento City Code § 9.44.470 Identification tag or microchip.

9.44.470 Identification tag or microchip. Every cat shall be provided by the owner with a suitable collar or other device to which the cat license shall be attached unless an acceptable microchip is used in place of the license tag. (Prior code § 6.11.140)

Sacramento City Code § 9.44.480 Identification tag-Not transferable.

9.44.480 Identification tag-Not transferable. It is unlawful for any person to use any identification tag for any other cat than for the one for which it was originally issued. The owner of a licensed cat shall preserve the license certificate upon the premises wherein the registered cat is kept and shall, upon demand of the animal care services manager, or any health officer, or a police officer of the city, show to such animal care services officer, health officer or police officer the license certificate to maintain such cat. (Ord. 2010-021 § 12; Ord. 2007-019 § 5; prior code § 6.11.141)

Source: City of Sacramento, Sacramento City Code (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/sacramentoca/latest/sacramento_ca/0-0-0-21196Fetched: 10/24/2026