Puyallup, WA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- License age
- 7 months or older
- Altered cat license
- $12.00/year
- Unaltered cat license
- $60.00/year
- Senior discount
- $6.00 altered / $30.00 unaltered
- Feral cats impounded
- Separated, humanely destroyed
Summary
Puyallup requires every cat seven months or older to be licensed annually, treats a feral cat in the shelter as a euthanasia case rather than a candidate for release, and declares an unconfined female cat in heat a nuisance subject to seizure.
Adult cats: seven months or older altered $12.00 unaltered $60.00 ... Feral cats can spread disease in the animal shelter. As a result, any cats impounded that are determined by the animal control officer to be feral will be separated from the other animals in the shelter and will be humanely destroyed as soon as possible. ... Every female dog or cat in heat shall be confined in a building or secure enclosure in such a manner that such female dog or cat cannot come into contact with a male of the species, except for planned breeding. Any such animal not so confined when in heat, whether or not such animal is licensed, is declared to be a nuisance and shall be immediately seized and impounded.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4985225; v6 updated 2026-07-21; through 07-21-2026).
Full Breakdown
00 (unaltered) for owners 65 and older. Licensed cats must wear a collar or harness with the tag attached whenever they are off the owner's premises. 075 states plainly that feral cats spread disease in the shelter, so any impounded cat the animal control officer determines to be feral is separated from the other animals and humanely destroyed as soon as possible, rather than held for redemption or adoption. 090 addresses a female cat in heat: she must be confined in a building or secure enclosure so she cannot contact a male of the species except for planned breeding, and an unconfined female in heat, licensed or not, is declared a nuisance and immediately seized and impounded. 045, which requires keepers of other animals to remove fecal matter from public sidewalks, streets and parks.
Violations & Fines
Failing to license a cat is enforceable as a Class 1 civil infraction under PMC § 8.04.200(1) (RCW 7.80.120(1)(a)); if the owner produces a valid license after being cited, the municipal court dismisses the infraction but may assess a $25.00 administrative cost. Repeat violations within five years trigger the 'habitual violator' misdemeanor track under PMC § 8.04.260, up to $1,000 and 90 days in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Puyallup have a feral cat colony or TNR program?
Do I need to license my cat in Puyallup?
What happens if my unspayed female cat gets loose while in heat?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Puyallup
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Cat Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle cat rules.