Highlands County, FL Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

5-22 applies only to dogs. Cats are instead covered by Article IV. 5-41 allows impoundment of any cat found roaming, wandering or running at large on a public street, right-of-way, or public place, or on the private property of anyone other than the cat's owner. An impounded cat is held at least five calendar days, including the day of impoundment, during which Animal Control notifies the owner if possible and makes the cat available for redemption; if the fifth day falls when the animal services department is closed, the next open day counts as the fifth day.

5-5, reflecting that they typically have no identifiable owner. If an owner does not redeem a cat within five days, a humane society, rescue organization, or responsible individual may redeem it instead; an unredeemed cat may then be humanely disposed of. Any cat redeemed by someone other than its owner must be spayed or neutered and have an RFID microchip implanted before leaving the shelter, at the redeemer's cost, along with all applicable fees. A cat redeemed by its own owner must still be microchipped before release, and if that owner redeems a cat from Animal Control more than once in a rolling 12-month period, the cat must also be spayed or neutered before it goes home. 5-43, charged to the owner upon redemption.