Boulder County, CO Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Cat leash law
- None (rules are dog-only)
- Rabies shot
- Required (Sec. 3)
- Schedule
- 3 mo, 1 yr, then =3 yrs
- Bite quarantine
- =10 days observation
- Owner pays
- Quarantine + testing costs
Summary
Boulder County's leash and at-large rules apply only to dogs, not cats. Cats are, however, covered by the mandatory rabies rule: Ordinance 2022-8 requires every dog, cat, and ferret to be vaccinated against rabies. A biting cat may be impounded for a 10-day observation.
It is ordered by the Boulder County Board of Health that the owner of each dog, cat or ferret in Boulder County shall have such dog, cat, or ferret inoculated... against rabies at three (3) months of age, one year later and a maximum of every three (3) years thereafter.
Full Breakdown
The control provisions of Ordinance 2022-8 (barking, at-large) reach 'all dogs,' so there is no cat leash or roaming law in unincorporated Boulder County. But Section 3, adopted by the Board of Health, requires the owner of each dog, cat, or ferret to have it inoculated against rabies at three months of age, again one year later, and at most every three years thereafter. A cat that bites a person and breaks the skin may be impounded or home-confined for at least ten days of rabies observation (Section 3(d)). Cats are also protected by the cruelty and minimum-care rules (Sections 8 and 10). Cities may add their own cat licensing.
Violations & Fines
Failing to keep a cat's rabies vaccination current is a violation of the Board of Health order in Section 3, a petty offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do cats have to be leashed in Boulder County?
Does my cat need a rabies vaccine?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Boulder County
Compare Boulder County to another location·View the Colorado animal ordinances overview
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