La Mesa, CA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- At-large status
- Cats exempt from running-at-large ban
- Cat cap
- 2 per dwelling, up to 10 if fixed
- Stray impound
- Fee set by council resolution
- Free trap
- City provides trap at no cost
Summary
La Mesa does not require cats to be confined: Section 8.04.130 exempts cats from the citywide ban on letting animals run at large that applies to dogs and livestock. A stray cat picked up by animal control still carries a redemption fee under Section 8.10.110, and zoning caps ownership at two adult cats per dwelling, or up to ten if the extras are spayed or neutered.
No person owning or having the care, custody or control of any livestock or other domestic animal (other than cat), shall permit the same to be at large. ... 8.10.110 - Fee for stray cats impounded in the field. Every person desiring a stray cat picked up by the animal control department must have the cat confined either in a cage or other type of container so as to prevent injury to the officer. A fee established by city council resolution will be paid at the time of said impoundment. A humane live animal trap will be made available by the city of La Mesa for this purpose at no cost to the citizen. ... b.Two adult cats per dwelling unit. The number of adult cats may be increased, to a maximum of ten, if those cats exceeding the first two are spayed or neutered.
Full Breakdown
Section 8.04.130 singles cats out for lighter treatment than other animals: while the section bars letting livestock or any other domestic animal run at large, it expressly excludes cats from that prohibition, so a free-roaming cat is not itself a code violation the way a loose dog would be. Once a stray cat is actually picked up, however, Section 8.10.110 requires the person turning it in to confine it in a cage or other container to prevent injury to the officer, and a redemption fee set by city council resolution applies at the time of impoundment; the city provides a humane live animal trap for this purpose at no cost to residents.
Ownership is capped separately through the zoning code: Section 24.05.020(D)(2)(b) allows two adult cats per dwelling unit, with that number increasing to a maximum of ten only if every cat beyond the first two is spayed or neutered. Cats impounded for suspected rabies exposure are isolated for at least ten days under Section 8.04.220, and bites from a cat must be reported to the department or health officer under Section 8.04.190. San Diego County Animal Services administers rabies isolation and shelter intake for the city under contract, while the La Mesa Police Department's animal control officer handles field enforcement.
Violations & Fines
Keeping more than two adult cats per dwelling unit without proof that the extras are spayed or neutered violates the zoning cap in Section 24.05.020(D)(2)(b), and failing to confine a stray cat safely before it is picked up under Section 8.10.110 can result in the standard impound redemption fee set by council resolution. Because cats are exempt from the at-large ban in Section 8.04.130, a roaming cat alone is not a citable offense, but ownership-cap or impound-fee violations default to an infraction under Section 1.01.080, fined up to two hundred fifty dollars.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my cat roam free in La Mesa?
How many cats can I legally own in La Mesa?
What happens if animal control picks up my stray cat?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in La Mesa
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Cat Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Diego County handle cat rules.