Orem, UT Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Orem City Code § 5-4-2
- Initial vaccination
- Within 30 days of age 4 months
- Cat revaccination interval
- Every 12 months (dogs: 24 months)
- Tag requirement
- Serially numbered tag on collar/harness
- Untagged consequence
- Presumed unvaccinated; may be impounded
Summary
Every cat in Orem four months or older must carry a current rabies vaccination: the first shot within 30 days of turning four months or arriving in the city, then revaccinated every 12 months, half the 24-month interval the code sets for dogs. Skip the collar tag and the cat is presumed unvaccinated and impoundable.
The owner or custodian of a dog or cat four (4) months of age or over shall have the animal vaccinated within thirty (30) days after it reaches this age. Unvaccinated dogs or cats over four (4) months of age, which are acquired by the owner or brought into the City, shall be vaccinated within thirty (30) days of acquisition or of being moved into the City. Every dog shall be revaccinated every twenty-four (24) months and every cat shall be revaccinated every twelve (12) months with a modified virus rabies vaccine approved by the Utah County Health Department. ... a metal or durable plastic rabies vaccination tag, serially numbered, shall be securely attached to the collar or harness of the animal. An animal not wearing such tag shall be deemed to be unvaccinated and may be impounded and dealt with pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter.
Full Breakdown
Section 5-4-2, Control of Rabies and Rabid Animals, sets the vaccination clock running at four months of age: the owner or custodian of a dog or cat four months or over must have it vaccinated within 30 days after it reaches that age, or within 30 days of acquiring an already-older animal or bringing one into Orem. The revaccination interval is species-specific, every 24 months for dogs but every 12 months for cats, using a modified live virus vaccine approved by the Utah County Health Department, and a veterinarian must complete a duplicate rabies certificate recording the owner's name and address, the animal's description, and the vaccine's manufacturer and serial number.
A durable, serially numbered tag must stay on the cat's collar or harness; an untagged cat is deemed unvaccinated under the code and, per Section 5-5-1, is subject to impound at the District Animal Shelter. Cats are also swept into Orem's at-large rule, Section 5-1-10, which makes the owner strictly liable if the cat is loose anywhere in the city regardless of precautions taken or the owner's knowledge, and into the chapter's bite-reporting duty, Section 5-4-1, which requires any cat bite to be reported to the Police Department or Utah County Health Department within 24 hours.
Violations & Fines
Failing to vaccinate or tag a cat under Section 5-4-2, or letting one run at large under Section 5-1-10, exposes the owner to an infraction with a fine up to $750 for a first through third offense in 12 months, escalating to a Class B misdemeanor, up to $1,000, six months in jail, or both, for a fourth offense; an untagged cat may also simply be impounded.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often must I vaccinate my cat for rabies in Orem?
What happens if my cat isn't wearing its rabies tag?
Can Orem impound a cat that gets loose?
Do I have to report it if my cat bites someone?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Orem
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Cat Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Utah County handle cat rules.