Blaine, MN Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Blaine takes a light-touch approach to cats. The city does not require cat licensing, and it does not have an ordinance specifically addressing stray cats - unlike dogs, which must be licensed and leashed. That means there is no mandatory cat license, no rabies-tied cat registration, and no cat-specific at-large or leash requirement in the city code. Cats are still subject to Blaine's general household pet limit, which the city's community standards guidance describes as up to three domestic pets of any one type over four months of age, so a household generally should not keep more than three cats. Importantly, Blaine's intentional wildlife-feeding ordinance (Section 14-228) prohibits feeding wild or feral animals within the city, which means feeding feral or community cats can run afoul of that rule. State animal-welfare laws against cruelty and abandonment also apply to cats. Owners are still responsible for their cats as personal property and for any nuisance or damage they cause. Anyone managing a feral cat colony or considering trap-neuter-return should check with the city first, given the feeding prohibition and the absence of a dedicated cat ordinance.