Pitt County, NC Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Part II, Section 5 (Animal Trapping) names cats specifically, authorizing the Animal Services Department or its designated agent to place live animal traps on public or private property, upon request, to trap and remove stray, at large, unwanted or nuisance animals, "including cats," and it is unlawful for anyone but an Animal Services officer to remove an animal from, or damage, destroy, move or tamper with, one of the department's traps. Part II, Section 8 layers on a duty that applies to "any animal," cats included: a person who possesses a stray, without the owner's consent, must contact Animal Services within 72 hours to report the stray's description and location or arrange for impoundment, and it's unlawful for anyone but the owner or keeper to remove an animal's collar, license tag or rabies tag.

Because the ordinance defines "Cat" as "a domestic feline of either sex including stray," Part II's cruelty and neglect standards, requiring food, water, shelter and prompt medical care and barring cruel treatment, apply fully to cats even though Parts III and IV ("Canine Control" and "Dangerous Dog") are dog-only. There is no cat licensing fee, tag requirement, or trap-neuter-return provision anywhere in the ordinance.