Anne Arundel County, MD Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Anne Arundel County's Department of Animal Services bars any domesticated animal, including a pet cat, from running at large under County Code § 12-4-905: an owner whose cat leaves the property unrestrained is in violation, and the public reports at-large animals to the Department. The code exempts eartipped community cats from that ban: a cat sterilized and rabies-vaccinated under a registered trap-neuter-return agreement can be reclaimed by its caregiver, per § 12-4-504(d), without redemption fees or proof of ownership. Owned cats must still carry current rabies vaccination under § 12-4-601, but the county requires an annual license only for dogs, not cats.