Milpitas, CA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Unlike many cities, Milpitas licenses cats as well as dogs. Municipal Code Section V-210-8.01 makes it unlawful to maintain or board any unlicensed dog or cat over four months of age, and a license is issued upon payment of the fee and presentation of a valid rabies vaccination certificate (Section V-210-8.13). Licensing is administered through the City's contract with San Jose Animal Care and Services; the application is available online and by mail, and Milpitas residents are offered one free license per household (spay/neuter not required) under the San Jose Animal Care fee schedule. Cats also count toward the household animal cap in Section V-210-7.02 - a combined total of four dogs and/or cats over four months old, with no more than one unspayed female. The code defines a 'cat' as a tame and domesticated cat (felis catus) and a 'feral cat' as an untamed, domesticated cat (Section V-210-2), reflecting that feral and free-roaming cats are recognized in the regulatory scheme. Milpitas does not impose a leash or confinement requirement on cats the way it does for dogs, so there is no cat-at-large citation equivalent to the dog leash rule. Owners must still keep cats from becoming a nuisance and keep rabies vaccinations current to maintain the license.