Columbia County, FL Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

In unincorporated Columbia County, cats fall under the same animal control article that governs dogs, since Code § 18-73 defines 'animal' as any domesticated creature commonly kept as a pet, with no cat-specific licensing or feral-colony program set out separately in the code. The confinement duty in Code § 18-74 applies to cats the same as any other animal owned or controlled by a resident. Two provisions single cats out by name. Code § 18-79 requires all dogs, cats and ferrets four months of age or older to be currently vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian, using a United States government-approved vaccine, at the owner's expense; Florida Statutes § 828.30 governs vaccination issues beyond that.

Code § 18-86 addresses breeding: a female dog or cat in heat must be humanely confined in a suitable building or secure enclosure to prevent it from breeding with an intact male, unless the breeding is planned, and an owner who fails to confine the animal is guilty of a violation and may be cited. A cat that strays or becomes a nuisance is handled the same way as any other animal under Code § 18-75, including impoundment, a three-working-day claim window, and proof of current rabies vaccination before it is returned to its owner.