Albuquerque requires cats over four months old to be licensed, vaccinated against rabies, and prohibits cats from running at large under the city's HEART ordinance.
Under Chapter 9 Article 2 of the Revised Ordinances of Albuquerque (ROA 1994), cats four months and older must be licensed annually, microchipped, and vaccinated for rabies. Owners must prevent cats from roaming onto neighboring property where they cause nuisance, defecation, or wildlife predation. Animal Welfare operates trap-neuter-return programs for community cats but ear-tipped cats remain subject to colony caretaker rules. Indoor-cat advisories are encouraged citywide because of coyote, raptor, and traffic risk in the high-desert environment.
First-offense violations carry $25 to $100 fines plus impound and reclaim fees; repeat offenses escalate and unlicensed unaltered cats face higher reclamation costs at the Eastside Shelter.
Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque prohibits intentional feeding of coyotes, bears, javelinas, and other nuisance wildlife under ROA 1994 Chapter 9 with enhanced penalties in footh...
Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque HEART Ordinance (ROA Ch. 9, Art. 2) — all dogs must be on a leash no longer than 8 ft when in public, held by a person capable of controlling the...
See how Albuquerque's cat rules rules stack up against other locations.
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