Grand Prairie, TX Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Section 5-12(b) states it is unlawful for the owner of an unvaccinated or unsterilized cat to allow it to run at large in the city; the chapter's Sec. 5-1 definition of "at large" covers any animal not confined on the owner's premises or continually leashed off it. Officers may impound a stray or at-large unvaccinated or unsterilized cat under Sec. 5-13; the owner reclaims it by paying impoundment fees, handling charges, and any vet bills, and by complying with vaccination and registration rules, and Sec.

5-13(a) further requires the animal services manager to implant a microchip before the cat is released back to its owner. A cat not reclaimed within 72 hours of impoundment becomes city property and may be adopted out, transferred to a rescue, or humanely destroyed under Sec. 5-13(b). The city carves out its trap-neuter-return program in Sec. 5-61(d): a citizen working with the animal services manager and a nonprofit agency as a community cat caretaker, in compliance with the city's community cat policy, has an affirmative defense to any ordinance requirement concerning at-large, nuisance, or harboring cats. That defense lets registered caretakers feed and manage outdoor colony cats without being cited under Sec. 5-12(b) for the animals running loose.