Denton, TX Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Colony status
- Permitted with a caretaker
- Program type
- Trap-neuter-return (TNR)
- First trapping
- Sterilized, chipped, returned
- Second nuisance trapping
- Relocated or dispositioned
- Chapter 6 default fine
- Up to $500 per offense
Summary
Denton lets registered caretakers feed and shelter feral cat colonies under a trap-neuter-return policy, but the privilege only holds as long as the colony doesn't become a nuisance or attract wildlife.
Feral cat colonies shall be permitted, and feral cat colony caretakers shall be entitled to maintain and care for feral cats by providing food, water, appropriate shelter, and other forms of sustenance providing that doing so does not create a nuisance nor provide sustenance for wildlife.(b)Feral cats that are trapped and brought to the animal services center shall be sterilized, microchipped, vaccinated for rabies, and returned to the area they were trapped. Providing they are not creating a nuisance. Any feral cat trapped a second (2 nd ) time as a nuisance animal and brought to the animal services center shall be relocated or dispositioned by animal services. (Ord. No. 24-730, § 1, 5-7-24)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 37 Update 1 | Development Code: Supplement 27).
Full Breakdown
City Code Sec. 6-25 permits feral cat colonies and lets caretakers provide food, water, and shelter, provided doing so does not create a nuisance or feed wildlife. Trapped feral cats brought to animal services must be sterilized, microchipped, and rabies-vaccinated before being returned to where they were caught, as long as they aren't causing a nuisance. A feral cat trapped a second time as a nuisance animal is instead relocated or dispositioned by animal services rather than returned.
Violations & Fines
Feral cat colony care itself isn't cited, but a colony or caretaker found to be a nuisance loses TNR protection; general Chapter 6 violations carry up to a $500 fine per Sec. 1-12(a)(4), with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I legally feed a feral cat colony in Denton?
What happens if animal services traps a colony cat?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Denton
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Denton to another location·View the Texas animal ordinances overview
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