Encinitas, CA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Cats are lightly regulated compared to dogs in the unincorporated County. The County Code defines a 'cat' as an animal of the genus and species Felis domesticus (section 62.602(h)) but imposes no cat license, no leash requirement, and no numeric limit on household cats; under Zoning Ordinance Animal Schedule Note 1, cats not constituting a kennel are accessory uses. Several health and welfare rules still reach cats. Bites by a cat (among other animals) must be reported to the Department of Animal Services, and biting or rabies-suspect cats can be ordered confined and isolated (sections 62.615-62.617). When an owner redeems an unaltered cat that was found at large, the County applies altering provisions (section 62.679 framework referenced at section 62.677). Owners must keep premises sanitary and free of fly-breeding conditions, odors, and disease (section 62.668), and a cat that creates a public nuisance can be addressed under section 62.682. California Penal Code section 597 also requires humane care, food, water, shelter, and veterinary care, and prohibits cruelty. Because there is no cat-leash law, free-roaming cats are generally lawful, but owners remain responsible for nuisance, sanitation, and rabies-control obligations. Commercial kennels that board cats are separately limited to no more than 12 adult cats per enclosure (section 62.645(b)).