Cats and the Law

The City Ordinance

RUNNNG AT LARGE PROHIBITED - The owner of a dog or cat shall confine such animal to his own premises and not permit same to run at large within the City. (City of Cody Ordinance 5-16)

The Problem

Cody has a very large feral cat population due to unwanted cats being abandoned when residents move. Most cats, if not taken in by someone will revert back to their instincts. The cats that have not been neutered or spayed produce offspring that continue to produce litters up to 3—4 times a year. A pair of unaltered cats and their offspring can produce approximately 475,000 cats in seven years.

These cats are not vaccinated against rabies, distemper or other diseases such as feline leukemia. The diseases can be transmitted to domestic cats that are allowed to freely roam.

The feral cat population can become infected with rabies by transmission from other cats, foxes, coyotes, skunks, raccoons, and a variety of other animals that are found in the Cody area.

Many property owners have resorted to trapping cats that use flower beds for litter boxes.

What you can do

If you have stray cats roaming your area, contact Animal Control and request a humane live trap. Animal Control can issue a trap that you can bait and set. Once the cat has been captured, animal control or a police officer will pick it up and take it to the Humane Society.

Spay or Neuter your cat to prevent unwanted kittens. The Humane Society receives hundreds of cats each year due to accidental pregnancies. Help them control the population by not adding to the problem.

Keep your cat indoors. If that’s not possible, put them in an escape- proof outside run with shelter, food and water. Cats that are allowed to roam are susceptible to disease and capture in live traps. If your cat is captured and taken to the Humane Society, it will cost you kennel and care fees and a citation for your animal running at large.

Vaccinate your cat against rabies, distemper and feline leukemia. If your cat is picked up by Animal Control, it will prevent it from becoming infected with these diseases or transmitting them to the cat population within the Humane Society.

Put a collar on your cat. The possibility that it would get caught on a fence is rare. If the collar is fitted properly, there will be no room for a picket to get between the collar and your animal. Put it on tight enough that it cannot slide over the cat's head. Cats usually don’t like collars and may roll around on the floor and scratch at the collar until he gets used to it, but most cats should adjust fairly quick.

Display a rabies tag on your pets collar. This will ensure that your cat is returned to you rather than to the shelter. In most cases, you will not receive a citation for the first offense if your pet is wearing a rabies tag.

Don't feed stray cats. If you feed them you are considered the owner. If you are considered the owner you could be cited for them running at large. Call animal control and request a trap.