Roanoke County, VA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Roanoke County treats every cat over four months old as a licensable animal under Chapter 5, Article II. Sec. 5-41 makes it unlawful to own, keep, hold or harbor an unlicensed cat that age or older, and the license lapses if the owner moves out of the county or lets the rabies vaccination expire. The county treasurer issues the license after the owner shows the rabies certificate required by Sec. 5-48, and since January 1, 2025 cat licenses are "lifetime" tags rather than annual ones, priced at fifteen dollars under Sec.

5-44. Sec. 5-24 caps ownership at six cats over four months old per dwelling, of which no more than two may be unspayed or unneutered ("fertile"); the cap does not apply to a dwelling that is part of an active agricultural operation. Unlike dogs, cats are not named in the county's general running-at-large ban at Sec. 5-28, so a roaming licensed cat does not by itself violate that section. Cats do fall under the nuisance and impoundment scheme at Sec. 5-29: an animal control police officer may confine any cat creating an "animal nuisance" and hold it at the county shelter, and an owner reclaiming it must show a current license and rabies proof and pay a pickup fee plus board.

Feral cats without identification that pose an injury risk are held only three days, rather than the usual five to ten, before they may be euthanized under Sec. 5-29(f) and Va. 2-6546. Concealing or harboring a cat on which the license tax has not been paid is separately unlawful under Sec. 5-47.