Caldwell, ID Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Caldwell's licensing and most of its animal control chapter focus on dogs. The mandatory licensing scheme in City Code 08-03-09 applies to canines, and the city's spay/neuter and differential-licensing provisions contain no parallel requirement for cats, meaning Caldwell does not require cat owners to license their animals. Cats are, however, addressed by the land use code: section 10-02-15 includes cats in the list of pets and the city's example caps a household at up to five cats; exceeding that number, or keeping more than the allowed types of pets, requires a minimum half-acre lot and/or a special use permit. The general confinement language in 08-03-17 directs that pets and companion animals be kept confined to the owner's property and not be allowed to enter neighboring premises, sidewalks, streets, or alleys, which applies to cats as companion animals. There is no located Caldwell trap-neuter-return or feral cat ordinance, so feral and free-roaming cat issues are handled through general nuisance and code compliance channels and through area shelters such as the West Valley Humane Society. Statewide, Idaho Code 25-3504 makes cruelty to any animal a crime, protecting cats along with other animals. Cat owners in Caldwell should confirm the current pet-limit numbers and any nuisance rules with the city, but as of the sources reviewed, no cat license is required.