Island County, WA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Cat license
- not required (dogs only)
- Rabies vaccination
- required for cats, dogs, ferrets
- Vaccination standard
- WAC 246-100-197 schedule
- Abandonment ban
- covers cats, chapter 6.04
- Abandonment penalty
- up to $100 fine, 90 days jail
Summary
Island County does not license cats the way it licenses dogs, but it does require every cat, along with dogs and ferrets, to be vaccinated against rabies under section 6.08.050, and it separately makes it unlawful to abandon a cat anywhere in the county under Chapter 6.04, backed by a misdemeanor penalty.
It shall be unlawful to intentionally abandon a dog, cat, or other animal within the limits of Island County. ... Any person who shall violate any of the sections of this chapter shall be guilty of misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) or imprisonment of not more than ninety (90) days in the Island County Jail for each violation. ... All dogs, cats and ferrets within Island County shall be vaccinated against rabies and revaccinated following veterinary and vaccine manufacturer instructions pursuant to WAC 246-100-197. Owners must provide proof of rabies vaccination to receive a dog license.
Full Breakdown
020 applies only to dogs, and Island County has no parallel chapter requiring a license or tag for cats. The county does, however, reach cats directly in two places. 050 requires all dogs, cats, and ferrets in Island County to be vaccinated against rabies and revaccinated on the schedule set by the veterinarian and vaccine manufacturer under WAC 246-100-197, and owners must show proof of that vaccination to obtain a dog license, which effectively backstops cat vaccination even without a cat-specific license system. 020 presumes intentional abandonment whenever someone discharges an animal from a vehicle more than one mile from their own home. 090, which by its own terms applies only to dogs.
Violations & Fines
Failing to vaccinate a cat against rabies as section 6.08.050 requires is a violation of chapter 6.08's general enforcement provisions, and it also blocks an owner from obtaining a required dog license in the same household if proof of the cat's status is otherwise relevant to an Animal Control inspection. Intentionally abandoning a cat under section 6.04.010 is a misdemeanor under section 6.04.030, punishable by a fine of up to $100, imprisonment of up to 90 days in the Island County Jail, or both, for each violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to license my cat in Island County?
Is my cat required to be vaccinated against rabies in Island County?
Is it illegal to abandon a cat in unincorporated Island County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Island County
Compare Island County to another location·View the Washington animal ordinances overview
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