Lassen County, CA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Lassen County does not impose the same mandatory licensing regime on cats that it does on dogs. The dog-licensing duty in section 8.12.010 applies specifically to dogs over four months old; the County Code does not establish an equivalent countywide cat-license mandate. The general animal regulations in Chapter 8.08 are written broadly to cover 'any animal,' so a cat that is permitted to stray off the owner's premises, to enter another person's land without permission, or to disturb the peace by habitual noise can be declared a nuisance, just as a dog can. There is no county-imposed cat curfew or leash requirement specific to cats in the code reviewed. California law adds an animal-welfare layer that applies to cats statewide — Penal Code section 597 prohibits cruelty and neglect, and abandonment of an animal is also barred. Cat overpopulation is a real local concern (the Lassen Humane Society and County shelter work on spay/neuter and adoption), and the County's spay/neuter incentives (such as reduced dog-license fees for altered animals) reflect that policy emphasis, though those specific fee provisions are written for dogs. Residents with stray, feral or nuisance cat issues should contact Lassen County Animal Control for trapping, shelter and adoption resources.