James City County, VA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- Code § 3-56; § 3-58
- Licensing
- No cat license; dogs only
- Vaccination
- Required at 4 months, by licensed vet
- At-large rule
- Unlawful without valid rabies vaccination
- Penalty
- Class 3 first offense, Class 1 repeat
- Feral cats
- Euthanized after 3 days if unidentified, risky
Summary
James City County does not license cats the way it licenses dogs, but Sec. 3-56 requires every cat four months or older to be currently vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian, and Sec. 3-58 bars any cat from running at large without that valid vaccination. A cat picked up unvaccinated and running loose is impounded and the owner billed for the actual holding costs.
(a)Vaccination required; exception. The owner or custodian of all dogs and domesticated cats four months of age and older shall have them currently vaccinated for rabies by a licensed veterinarian or licensed veterinary technician who is under the immediate and direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian on the premises. The supervising veterinarian on the premises shall provide the owner of the dog or the custodian of the domesticated cat with a certificate of vaccination. ... (a)Dogs or cats shall not run at large in the county without a valid rabies vaccination as required by this chapter. ... (d)A violation of this section shall constitute a Class 3 misdemeanor for the first violation and a Class 1 misdemeanor for a second or a subsequent violation.
Full Breakdown
There is no cat licensing requirement in James City County; Chapter 3's license article applies only to dogs. Cats are still regulated through rabies control and at-large rules. Sec. S. Department of Agriculture, and the vaccinating veterinarian must issue a certificate the owner has to produce on request from an animal control officer, humane investigator, law-enforcement officer, or Department of Health official; officers may check certificates door-to-door. Anyone bringing a cat into the county from elsewhere has 30 days to comply under Sec. 3-56(b). Sec.
3-58(a) then makes it unlawful for a cat to run at large in the county without a valid rabies vaccination, defining "at large" the same way as the dog provisions: roaming or self-hunting off the owner's premises without the owner's or an agent's immediate control. A cat caught running at large unvaccinated is impounded under Sections 3-45 through 3-47, and if the owner is identified, the county charges the actual expenses of capturing and impounding the cat. Sec. 3-58(d) makes a first violation a Class 3 misdemeanor and a second or later violation a Class 1 misdemeanor. Feral cats without any identification that pose a risk of injury can be euthanized after as little as three days under Sec. 3-46(f).
Violations & Fines
Running a cat at large without a current rabies vaccination is a Class 3 misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class 1 misdemeanor for a second or later offense under Sec. 3-58(d). An impounded cat's owner is also billed for the actual cost of capture and confinement, and an unidentified feral cat judged a risk to people can be euthanized after as little as three days at the shelter under Sec. 3-46(f).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to license my cat in James City County?
What vaccination does my cat need and by when?
What happens if animal control catches my unvaccinated cat outside?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in James City County
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