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Antioch, CA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Cat cap without permit
Five cats
Feral cat feeding
Only allowed on your own property
At-large rule
Does not apply to cats
Permit authority
Animal Control Supervisor
Permit review
Neighbor notice, 10-day comment period

Summary

Antioch's animal code exempts roaming cats from the dog-style at-large rule but still bans feeding a feral cat anywhere but your own property under AMC § 6-1.501(K), and caps household cats at five before a permit under § 6-1.602(B) is required.

CAT. A member of the feline species customarily confined or cultivated as a pet. FERAL CAT. A cat that is born in or has reverted to the wild, and is not domesticated or tamed. ... It is unlawful for a person owning an animal to do any of the following... (K) Harbor or feed a feral cat except on one's own property; ... (B) Number of cats. It is unlawful for a person to keep more than five cats without a permit issued under § 6-1.601.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Antioch treats cats differently from dogs throughout Chapter 1 of Title 6. 102 states plainly that an at-large animal does not include a cat, so a cat roaming off its owner's property is not itself a code violation the way a loose dog is. The code defines CAT as a member of the feline species customarily confined or cultivated as a pet, and FERAL CAT as a cat that is born in or has reverted to the wild and is not domesticated or tamed. 501's opening clause.

601, the same discretionary permit track used for excess dogs, birds and rabbits. 303 including neighbor notice and a ten-day comment period. 505, subject to the pet-store and shelter exceptions in that section.

Violations & Fines

Feeding a feral cat off your own property is enforceable the same way as any other unlawful act under § 6-1.501: as a misdemeanor or infraction under § 6-1.204(B)(1), by administrative citation, or as a public nuisance abatement action. Keeping more than five cats without the § 6-1.602(B) permit exposes the owner to the same remedies plus denial or revocation of the permit itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it illegal for my cat to roam the neighborhood in Antioch?
No. Section 6-1.102 defines "at large" to exclude cats entirely, so a cat that leaves its owner's property is not violating the at-large rule that applies to dogs. Other unlawful-act provisions, like cruelty or public nuisance behavior, still apply to cats the same as any animal.
Can I feed the stray cats in my neighborhood?
Only on your own property. Section 6-1.501(K) makes it unlawful to harbor or feed a feral cat except on one's own property, so feeding a colony on a sidewalk, alley, or a neighbor's yard is a violation even if you mean it as a kindness.
How many cats can I keep at my Antioch home?
Up to five without any permit. Keeping more than five cats requires a permit under § 6-1.602(B) and § 6-1.601, which involves an Animal Control Supervisor inspection, notice to neighbors within 300 feet, and a ten-day window for them to raise odor or noise complaints.

Sources & Official References

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All Antioch rules

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