Tehama County, CA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Unlike dogs, cats in unincorporated Tehama County are not subject to licensing or a leash requirement, and the County's published animal-regulations guidance is explicit that cats are unregulated. The Sheriff's Office Operations Division and Animal Care Center materials state that Animal Control will not respond to or pick up stray cats; however, the Tehama County Animal Care Center will accept surrendered or stray cats brought in by residents, subject to a waiting list and an impound/surrender fee. Because there is no mandatory spay/neuter ordinance for cats published for the county, sterilization is encouraged rather than required - the County recommends spaying or neutering cats (and dogs) at roughly four to six months of age to prevent overpopulation and improve behavior and health. The County's general animal-welfare standards still apply to cats: a cat may not be left or confined in an unattended vehicle under conditions that endanger its health (heat, cold, lack of ventilation, or lack of food or water), and cruelty or neglect of a cat is prosecutable under California Penal Code 597. For free-roaming or feral cat issues, residents generally rely on trap-neuter-return through local rescue resources rather than County pickup. Anyone wishing to surrender a cat should contact the Tehama County Animal Care Center at (530) 527-3439 about the waiting list and fees.