Muncie, IN Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Section 90.16(A) states plainly that cats "shall be subject to all of the remaining sections of this chapter, including impounding and humane euthanasia provisions," so a pet cat is impounded and processed the same as a dog under §§ 90.06 and 90.15. For feral cats specifically, § 90.16(B) requires every colony to operate without becoming a public nuisance and to comply with the chapter's general animal-care standards, and requires anyone who feeds, waters or shelters a colony to register as a colony caretaker with the animal care and services department or its designee.

Section 90.16(C) authorizes that department or its designee to trap feral cats humanely, have them surgically sterilized, ear-tipped or tattooed and vaccinated against rabies, and then release them for adoption or return them to a managed colony under a registered caretaker; feral cats bearing the managed-colony ear-tip may be returned to their colony after impoundment unless illness or injury endangers public health, in which case euthanasia may follow. Section 90.16(D) sets caretaker duties: follow the department's trap-neuter-return guidelines, never have a prior animal cruelty conviction, prevent the colony from becoming a nuisance, and have a veterinarian evaluate every trapped cat's health.

Both unregistered colony feeding and caretaker violations carry the same graduated fine under § 90.16(B)(1)(c) and (D)(6): $25.00 for a first offense, rising $50.00 per subsequent offense, and repeated violations can also cost a caretaker removal from the managed-colony program.