Georgetown, KY Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Section 6-22(c) of the Georgetown Code is the cat-specific confinement rule. Under it, every female dog or cat in heat shall be confined in a building or secure enclosure in a manner that prevents the animal from coming into contact with another animal, except for a planned breeding. The section says an underground fence system is not a secure enclosure, so a buried-wire containment collar does not satisfy the rule for a cat in heat.

Impoundment is handled under Section 6-24. Animals running at large or constituting a public nuisance can be taken by the city or its designated enforcement officers and impounded in an animal shelter in a humane manner. Chapter 6 defines an animal at large as any animal not under the restraint of a person capable of controlling the animal and/or off the premises of the owner, and it counts an animal found at large three or more times within a 12-month period as a public nuisance animal. Animals other than livestock are held at least five working days. If a license tag or other means identifies the owner, the city must notify the owner immediately on impoundment, by telephone or by a notice posted at the home.

To reclaim a cat, the owner pays $10.00 plus $2.00 for each day the animal was impounded, and subsequent impoundments within 12 months incur double impoundment fees. An animal not reclaimed within five working days becomes the property of the city and is placed for adoption in a suitable home. If the animal is not suitable for adoption, it can be humanely euthanized by sodium pentobarbital. The city or its designee keeps records of the care, feeding, veterinary treatment and disposition of every impounded animal, and Section 6-24(j) says euthanasia does not relieve the owner of liability for violations and accrued charges.

Selling cats is also restricted. Section 6-20(e) makes it unlawful to sell, exchange, trade, barter or display cats except through a duly licensed pet store, stockyard or breeding establishment at its regular place of business, while individual owners can sell animals on an occasional basis on property they own or lease.