Palm Desert, CA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Spay and neuter
- No unaltered cat can be owned, kept or harbored (§ 6.12.150)
- Microchip
- Required for every cat over four months old (§ 6.12.160)
- Feral cats
- City encourages trap-neuter-return by authorized rescuers (§ 6.28.140)
- Animal limit
- More than four animals on residential premises is unlawful (§ 6.28.070)
- Fines under Chapter 6.28
- $50 first, $100 second, $200 each additional within one year
- Enforcement
- Animal control officer and Riverside County Department of Animal Services
Summary
In the City of Palm Desert, California, no one can own, keep or harbor an unaltered cat: every cat must be spayed or neutered or covered by a certificate of sterility under § 6.12.150. Cats over four months old also need a Riverside County Department of Animal Services microchip, and § 6.28.140 supports trap-neuter-return for feral cats.
A. Requirement. ... No person may own, keep, or harbor an unaltered dog or cat in violation of this section. An owner or custodian of an unaltered dog must have the dog spayed or neutered, or provide a certificate of sterility, or obtain an unaltered dog license in accordance with this chapter. An owner or custodian of an unaltered cat must have the animal spayed or neutered or provide a certificate of sterility. ... C. Any dog or cat impounded at a county animal shelter is required to be spayed or neutered prior to release unless exempt in subsection D below. ... 3. A cat with a high likelihood of suffering serious bodily harm or death if spayed or neutered, due to age or infirmity. The owner or custodian shall obtain written confirmation of this fact from a California licensed veterinarian. If the cat is able to be safely spayed or neutered at a later date, that date shall be stated in the written confirmation. 4. Animals owned by recognized breeders with a valid city business license pursuant to Chapter 5.04.
Full Breakdown
Palm Desert regulates cats through two chapters of the Palm Desert Municipal Code, and both apply to every cat kept in the City of Palm Desert, Riverside County, California. Chapter 6.12 sets the owner duties. Section 6.12.150 makes spaying or neutering mandatory: an unaltered cat needs either the surgery or a certificate of sterility. Subsection B points owners to appointments at the county's animal shelters and says the department charges an appointment fee set by the Riverside County Department of Animal Services, which is applied toward the cost of the surgery when the owner keeps the appointment or contacts the department 24 hours before to reschedule. Exemptions cover a cat at high risk of serious bodily harm or death due to age or infirmity, animals owned by recognized breeders with a valid city business license under Chapter 5.04, and animals used for law enforcement or search and rescue by public agencies.
Section 6.12.160 adds mandatory microchipping for every dog and cat over four months old. A cat offered for trade or adoption must travel with its microchip number on the transfer document, and the owner must tell the county of Riverside the new owner's name and address. A kitten under four months that already carries a chip must be reported to the county, with the chip number, within 10 days of any transfer. An impounded cat without a chip must be implanted before release, or the owner signs a statement under penalty of perjury and files a veterinarian's confirmation within 10 business days.
Chapter 6.28 covers the street side. Section 6.28.140 states that the city encourages humane management of feral cats through TNR programs, and authorized rescuers or organizations can trap, sterilize, vaccinate and return feral cats to their original location, provided they comply with rabies vaccination requirements and do not create nuisances. Section 6.28.090 bars selling or giving away any cat or kitten on a public street, sidewalk, park or private property, except adoptions by licensed humane societies, rescues or shelters. Section 6.28.070 caps residential premises at four animals of any combination, not counting kittens under three months.
Violations & Fines
Selling or giving away a cat on a public street or park, or keeping more than four animals at a residence, is an infraction under § 6.28.160: a fine not exceeding $50 for the first violation, $100 for a second within one year, and $200 for each additional violation within one year. Section 6.28.150 declares any animal kept in contravention of the title a public nuisance, and the animal control officer and peace officers can summarily abate it. The owner reimburses the city's enforcement costs. Fee and penalty disputes under § 6.12.170 go to an administrative hearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Palm Desert require cats to be spayed or neutered?
Do cats have to be microchipped in Palm Desert?
Does Palm Desert allow trap-neuter-return for feral cats?
Can I sell or give away kittens on a street corner or in a park?
How many cats can I keep at my Palm Desert home?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palm Desert
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Cat Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Riverside County handle cat rules.