Chandler, AZ Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum impound hold
- 72 hours
- Cat licensing
- Not required (dogs only)
- Reclaim requirement
- Proof of ownership + all pound fees
- Unclaimed cats
- Sold or humanely disposed of
- Euthanasia methods
- Sodium pentobarbital, nitrogen gas, or T-61
Summary
Chandler impounds stray cats the same as stray dogs and holds them at the pound at least 72 hours before disposal. Owners can reclaim an impounded cat by proving ownership and paying all pound fees; unclaimed cats may be placed for sale or humanely disposed of after the hold expires.
14-23. - Establishment of pounds; impounding and disposing of dogs and cats; reclaiming impounded dogs and cats; pound fees. A. Any stray dog shall be impounded. All dogs and cats impounded shall be given proper care and maintenance. B. Each stray dog or any cat impounded shall be kept and maintained at the pound for a minimum of seventy-two (72) hours unless claimed by its owner. Any person may purchase such a dog or cat upon expiration of the impoundment period, provided such person pays all pound fees and complies with the licensing and vaccinating provisions of this article.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 79).
Full Breakdown
1) applies to dogs specifically. ' Subsection C lets an owner reclaim an impounded cat by furnishing 'proof of right to do so' and paying all pound fees. Section 14-24 further requires that any cat destroyed while impounded be euthanized only by sodium pentobarbital (or a derivative), nitrogen gas, or T-61 solution, administered by a licensed veterinarian or under State Veterinarian procedures for two of those three methods. Chandler's code contains no separate feral-colony or trap-neuter-return provision, those programs, where they exist, run through Maricopa County Animal Care and Control rather than City Code.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 14 does not set a standalone criminal penalty for a stray cat itself; the impound-and-reclaim mechanics in §§ 14-23 and 14-24 are administrative. General nuisance or at-large violations involving animals other than dogs fall under § 14-8's misdemeanor for permitting an animal to run at large or trespass on another's property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to license my cat in Chandler?
How long does the pound hold a stray cat before it can be adopted or destroyed?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chandler
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Cat Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Maricopa County handle cat rules.