Hanover County, VA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

S. Department of Agriculture for that species. The vaccinating veterinarian issues a rabies tag and a vaccination certificate on NASPHV Form No. 51, listing the vaccination date, the revaccination due date, the tag number, and a description of the animal, and the owner must keep that certificate and show it to an animal control officer on request. Anyone who owns, keeps, harbors, or moves into the county with a cat over four months old has 30 days to get the vaccination done. Unlike dogs, cats are not required to be licensed: section 4-56 only makes it unlawful to own an unlicensed dog, and the licensing division (sections 4-56 through 4-70) never mentions cats.

Section 4-22 lets the animal control officer impound any unvaccinated dog or cat in the county's public animal shelter, holding it at least five days; an owner can redeem the cat by paying the license fee plus five dollars for every additional 24 hours of impoundment, and the cat must then be vaccinated within 30 days of redemption. Cats brought into the county for up to 30 days for showing or breeding, and kept confined the whole time, are exempt under section 4-17. Hanover's nuisance-animal rule in section 4-78 also reaches cats: one that repeatedly chases or harasses people, damages property, or bites without provocation can be summoned to general district court, confined, or subject to a civil penalty of up to $250.