New Brunswick, NJ Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Chapter 6.08 regulates cats. Section 6.08.040(A) provides that no person shall own, keep, harbor or maintain any cat over seven months of age within the city unless the cat is vaccinated and licensed. Cats held in a cattery, by a state or federal licensed research facility, at a veterinary establishment for treatment, or at a licensed shelter, pound, kennel or pet shop are outside that rule. Vaccination is by a licensed veterinarian, and the health officer can exempt a cat for a specified period on a veterinarian's certificate that an infirmity, physical condition or regimen of therapy makes inoculation inadvisable.

Section 6.08.050 requires an annual application to the city clerk for a license and official registration tag for each cat of licensing age, with a collar or other device carrying the license number. The owner of a newly acquired cat, or of a cat that reaches licensing age, applies within ten days, and the requirement does not apply to a nonresident keeping a cat in the city for no longer than ninety days. A cat licensed in another state that stays in the city for more than ninety days needs a New Brunswick license. The clerk grants no license without evidence of rabies inoculation or a certified exemption. The fee is $18.20 for each un-neutered cat and $15.20 for each neutered cat. Renewals are due before February 1st, with a late fee of five dollars as of February 1st and ten dollars as of June 1st, and a duplicate license for a lost tag costs one dollar. Owners must produce proof of licensing on request of any health official, police officer, animal control officer or other authorized person.

Stray and feral cats run through the feeding provision. Section 6.08.030 defines a stray cat as any cat that is feral (wild) or is not maintained in the manner a household pet would be cared for, and Section 6.08.020(B) requires anyone who feeds stray cats to comply with the licensing and vaccination sections. Section 6.08.020(C) bars letting a cat injure or damage any lawn, shrubbery, flowers, grounds or property.