Bloomfield, NJ Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Chapter 134, Article IV (Cats) of the Bloomfield Township Code requires a license for any cat of licensing age, meaning a cat that has reached seven months or has a set of permanent teeth. Under § 134-44(A), the owner annually applies to the Department for a license and an official registration tag with a license number, or a registration sleeve, and places a collar or other device displaying the number on the cat. Breakaway or elastic collars qualify, and tags and sleeves are not transferable. Section 134-43 separately requires rabies vaccination of any cat over seven months of age, and § 134-44(F) bars issuing a license without evidence of the inoculation or a certified exemption.

Timing is set in § 134-44(B) and (C). A newly acquired cat, or one reaching licensing age, must be licensed within 10 days. A person bringing in a cat licensed in another state for the current year has more than 90 days before applying, while a person bringing in an unlicensed cat must apply after more than 10 days. Fees under § 134-44(G) are $22 per spayed or neutered cat and $25 per cat that is not, with a $20 late charge on a renewal filed after August 1. Licenses expire June 30 of the following year, and a duplicate for a lost tag or sleeve costs $1. Owners must produce proof of licensing on request of any health official, police officer or animal control officer.

At large rules in § 134-12 cover cats as well as dogs, and § 134-45 lets the Animal Control Officer impound a stray cat, a cat off the premises without a current registration tag, or a female cat in season.

Article V sets the feral cat regime. Section 134-49(C) exempts community cats that meet the article from licensing, stray and at-large provisions. Section 134-52 requires caregivers to feed only in daylight, in a container, and to remove leftover food before dark.