Vanderburgh County, IN Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- County Code Ch. 6.05, Animal Control
- Cat-specific license
- None required
- At-large defined
- Off-property, unleashed or unconfined
- 1st offense fine
- $50
- 3rd+ offense fine
- $500
- Enforcing agency
- Evansville-Vanderburgh Animal Care & Control
Summary
Vanderburgh County has no separate cat license or feral-colony ordinance. Chapter 6.05's Animal Control code defines "Animal" broadly enough to include cats, so a cat off its owner's property without a leash, or one that becomes an "Animal Nuisance," violates the same at-large prohibition applied to dogs and is enforceable by the joint Evansville-Vanderburgh Animal Care and Control Department.
"ANIMAL" means any living, non-human vertebrate or invertebrate creature domestic, wild or exotic, excluding animals that are raised or maintained for agricultural purposes unless specifically stated otherwise. ... "AT LARGE" means any Animal that is: 1. not on a leash and is off the property of its Owner, its Custodian, the Agent of the Owner or the Custodian, or its keeper, or 2. on a leash that does not adequately confine the Animal to the property of its Owner... 6.05.040 Prohibited Acts... A. Permit an Animal to be stray, at large, or become an Animal Nuisance.
Full Breakdown
05, the Animal Control ordinance, defines "ANIMAL" as "any living, non-human vertebrate or invertebrate creature domestic, wild or exotic," a definition broad enough to sweep in cats even though the chapter never singles them out. 020 defines "AT LARGE" to mean an animal not on a leash and off the property of its owner, custodian, or their agent, or on a leash that fails to confine it or is not under the control of someone capable of restraining it. 040(A) makes it a "Prohibited Act" for an owner, agent, or custodian to "[p]ermit an Animal to be stray, at large, or become an Animal Nuisance," and the "ANIMAL NUISANCE" definition separately reaches an animal that interferes with passers-by, damages property, or enters a public park, playground, or school yard without authorization.
Because the county code has no cat-specific chapter, no cat license requirement, and no feral-colony or trap-neuter-return program, a loose or nuisance cat is handled exactly like any other loose animal. 050. 00 per day of impoundment.
Violations & Fines
Section 6.05.060 sets a graduated fine schedule for any Chapter 6.05 violation, including letting a cat run at large: $50 for a first offense, $100 for a second offense by the same person, and $500 for a third or subsequent offense, with proceeds paid to the County Treasurer for the County General Fund. The Sheriff's Office and Animal Care and Control may also cite violations of Indiana Code §§ 15-20-1 and 35-46-3.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to license my cat in Vanderburgh County?
What makes a cat "at large" under county law?
Who do I call if a stray or nuisance cat is a problem?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Vanderburgh County
Compare Vanderburgh County to another location·View the Indiana animal ordinances overview
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