Fitchburg, WI Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Section 56-26 of the Fitchburg City Code, Dane County, Wisconsin, requires every person who owns, harbors or keeps a cat five months of age or older within the city's urban services area to obtain an annual license and pay the cat license tax or fee, mirroring the dog licensing duty in Section 56-25. Section 56-27 sets the fee itself in the city's fee schedule on file with the city clerk, and that schedule may set different rates by sex and by neutered or unneutered status.

Once the fee is paid and rabies vaccination is shown, Section 56-28 requires the city to issue a license and durable tag bearing a serial number, expiration date, owner information and the animal's description, and Section 56-29 requires the owner to keep that tag attached to a collar or harness on the cat at all times; a cat found without a tag is presumed unlicensed. Beyond licensing, Section 56-74(1) makes it unlawful for an owner or keeper to let 'such animal,' a term covering cats as well as dogs, run or be at large upon any street, alley or public place in the city, or on property other than the owner's or keeper's, except in the city dog park or public hunting grounds.

The same section separately bars an animal from attacking pedestrians or other pets, habitually disturbing the peace, damaging property, chasing vehicles, or entering posted park areas unrestrained. A humane officer appointed under Wis. ch. 173, or any police or code enforcement officer under Section 56-1, may enforce both the licensing and at-large rules, and an uncontrolled cat may be impounded under Section 56-49 and held a minimum of 72 hours before an owner can redeem it.