Boulder, CO Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Unlike most animals, a domestic cat in Boulder has no leash or at-large prohibition. Section 6-1-15(a), Animals Running at Large Prohibited, applies to "any animal in the city, except a dog or domestic cat," meaning the city's general roaming ban was written to specifically leave cats and dogs out of its coverage (dogs get their own leash law under 6-1-16 instead). A cat can legally leave its owner's property and roam the neighborhood without violating that section. The city does regulate cats through the narrower nuisance rule in Section 6-1-22, Nuisance Cat Prohibited: an owner or keeper must prevent the cat from damaging another person's property, regardless of whether the cat is confined or roaming.

Boulder's noise ordinance, Section 6-1-19(d), also singles out cats: the usual requirement of a prior written warning and two corroborating witnesses before a noise conviction does not apply to a cat if the prosecution proves beyond a reasonable doubt the cat was off its guardian's premises when it disturbed the peace. If a cat bites someone, Section 6-1-24(a) still applies the same rabies-observation impoundment used for dogs: at least ten days of confinement at a veterinary hospital or, for a licensed and vaccinated cat, at home.

Because 6-1-22 sets no fine of its own, a nuisance-cat conviction is punished under the citywide general penalty, Section 5-2-4, up to $2,650 or ninety days in jail.