Glenn County, CA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Standard hold
- Minimum 4 business days
- Extended hold
- 6 business days, limited shelter hours
- Owner-only window
- First 3 days for stray cats
- Kitten exception
- Under 8 weeks, adoptable immediately
- Adopted kittens
- Must be spayed/neutered per state law
Summary
Glenn County Code Section 8.04.100 sets a minimum four-business-day shelter hold for impounded cats, six days if the shelter has no evening or weekend hours that week, and reserves the first three days of any stray cat's hold for its owner before the cat can be adopted out.
Stray cats shall be reserved exclusively for owner redemption during the first three days of the holding period, not including the day of impoundment, and shall be available for owner redemption or adoption for the remainder of the holding period. Notwithstanding subsection C: A kitten under eight weeks of age that is reasonably believed to be unowned may be available immediately for adoption beginning on the day of impoundment but shall remain available for owner redemption or adoption. All kittens sold, given away or transferred to a new owner must comply with Food and Agricultural Code Section 31751.3 or Section 31760 to 31762, inclusive, ensuring that the kitten is or will be spayed or neutered.
Full Breakdown
100(A) sets the general holding period for any impounded dog or cat at a minimum of four business days, not counting the day of impoundment. on one weekday evening or for one weekend day that week. Subsection (C) is specific to cats: a stray cat is reserved exclusively for owner redemption during the first three days of its hold, not including the impoundment day, and only becomes available for adoption alongside owner redemption for the remainder of the holding period. An exception lets a kitten under eight weeks old, reasonably believed to be unowned, go up for adoption immediately on the day it is impounded, while still remaining available for owner redemption.
3 or Sections 31760 through 31762, which require the kitten to be, or to become, spayed or neutered. A voluntarily surrendered cat gets the same holding period and standard of care as an impounded stray and stays available for redemption or adoption the whole time. These holding-period rules were repealed and replaced by Ordinance 1321 on December 13, 2022.
Violations & Fines
Redeeming a cat during the reserved three-day window requires proof of ownership under Section 8.04.105's redemption procedures; after that window a cat may be adopted out or, per Section 8.04.110, disposed of once the full holding period under Section 8.04.100 has run without redemption. Fees for redemption are set by Board of Supervisors resolution under Section 8.04.092.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Glenn County Animal Control hold a stray cat before it can be adopted?
Can a kitten be adopted out before the normal holding period ends?
Do adopted kittens have to be fixed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Glenn County
California rules heatmap·Compare Glenn County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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