Montgomery, AL Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Chapter 4, Article III, Rabies control, defines a "cat" as all members of the domesticated feline (Felis catus) family three months of age or older (Sec. 4-81) and then applies its rules to dogs and cats identically. Sec. 4-82 makes it unlawful to own, possess, keep, maintain or harbor within city limits any cat that has not been inoculated annually against rabies as required by state law. Sec. 4-83 requires every cat over three months to wear a substantial, durable collar or harness when off the owner's premises, with the inoculation tag attached, and bans removing that collar, harness or tag without the owner's consent.

Sec. 4-84 bars letting a cat wear a tag issued for a different animal. Sec. 4-85 gives animal control officers, police officers and shelter agents the right to enter premises where a cat is kept to verify inoculation, and Sec. 4-86 authorizes impounding any cat not displaying a proper tag, following the same procedure set out for dogs at Sec. 00 per day of housing. Montgomery's code does not contain a separate cat-licensing or free-roaming feral-colony program distinct from these dog-and-cat rabies-control provisions; the collar, tag and inoculation duties are the operative citywide cat rules.