Loveland, CO Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- License deadline
- 14 days after acquiring the cat
- License renewal
- Annually
- At-large rule
- Applies to cats same as dogs
- Enforcement
- Police & animal control officers
Summary
Loveland treats cats like dogs under its animal code: owners must license every cat within 14 days of acquiring it, keep the license tag on the cat's collar, and never let it run at large off the owner's property under Municipal Code Sections 6.08.010 and 6.20.010. Larimer County's Humane Society enforces both rules.
A.The owner or keeper of any dog, cat, pot-bellied pig or dwarf goat kept within the city shall secure from the city, within 14 days of acquiring possession of said dog, cat, pot-bellied pig or dwarf goat, a license to keep the animal, which shall at all times be kept current by the owner or keeper. [...] A.No owner of any animal, or any person who harbors, keeps or is in charge of an animal shall permit such animal to be at large in the city. Any animal off its owner's or keeper's premises shall be on a leash or tether controlled by its owner or keeper, except where such animal and its owner or keeper are located within a fenced park specifically designated by a public authority for off-leash or untethered dogs.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 13).
Full Breakdown
010 puts cats in the same license category as dogs, pot-bellied pigs and dwarf goats: the owner or keeper must secure a city license within 14 days of getting the animal and keep it current every year after that. It's a defense that the owner hadn't lived in the city 30 days yet, or that the cat is four months old or younger. 050 sets the fee by council resolution, though it's waived for a certified guide or service animal. 010(B). An unspayed female cat in heat must be confined in a secured enclosure during estrus except for planned breeding, or an animal control officer can order it removed to a boarding facility or the shelter at the owner's expense. 040.
Violations & Fines
Keeping an unlicensed cat, letting one run at large, or failing to confine one in heat is enforced under Section 6.32.050, punishable under the general penalty in Section 1.12.010: a fine plus up to 364 days in jail, or both, with each day of violation a separate offense. An unlicensed cat found off-premises is impounded and the owner pays reclaim and impound fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Loveland require cat owners to get a license?
Can my cat legally roam outside in Loveland?
What happens if animal control picks up my unlicensed cat?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Loveland
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Cat Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Larimer County handle cat rules.