Cumberland County, NC Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Rabies shot
- Required for cats 4 months+
- License
- Annual, required (Sec. 3-50)
- Cat leash
- No specific mandate
- Cat cap
- None set numerically
- Feral/TNR
- No dedicated ordinance
Summary
Cumberland County requires cats, like dogs, to be rabies-vaccinated and licensed. Under Code Sec. 3-40 it is unlawful to fail to provide current rabies vaccination for any dog, cat, or ferret four months or older, and an annual privilege license is required (Sec. 3-50).
It shall be unlawful for an owner or keeper to fail to provide current vaccination against rabies (hydrophobia) for any dog, cat or ferret four (4) months of age or older.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 3-40 makes it unlawful for an owner or keeper to fail to provide current rabies vaccination for any dog, cat, or ferret four months of age or older, matching NC state rabies law (NCGS 130A-185). A vaccination is current if the first two doses are given twelve months apart with boosters on the manufacturer's schedule. Every dog and cat over four months also needs an annual county privilege license, tied to the rabies tag (Sec. 3-50). Cats are covered by the running-at-large and nuisance provisions (Sec. 3-15, 3-19), but the ordinance sets no cat-specific leash mandate or numeric cat cap. Residents 65 or older can obtain a free permanent license for up to three cats or dogs.
Violations & Fines
Failing to vaccinate a cat over four months violates Sec. 3-40 and state rabies law; failing to license violates Sec. 3-50. Unvaccinated or unlicensed cats can be impounded until fees are paid, and nuisance cats are citable under Sec. 3-15.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do cats need shots and a license in Cumberland County?
Are cats required to be leashed or confined?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cumberland County
Compare Cumberland County to another location·View the North Carolina animal ordinances overview
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