Rowlett, TX Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Rowlett's Animal Code (Chapter 6) carves cats out of its at-large rule. Section 6-4 makes it unlawful to allow any animal 'other than a cat' to run at large, and authorizes officers to impound at-large animals other than a cat; however, subsection (b) allows an officer to impound a cat upon receipt of a complaint that the cat causes a nuisance or a hazard to the health or welfare of any person or animal. So while there is no general leash or confinement mandate for cats, an owner can still face impoundment if a free-roaming cat becomes a documented nuisance. Cats are otherwise subject to the same licensing and rabies rules as dogs: under Section 6-71, all domestic animals capable of transmitting rabies, including all dogs, cats and ferrets, must be registered annually with the Animal Shelter, with proof of current rabies vaccination. Registration fees are $10 for spayed/neutered animals or those under six months, $20 for unaltered animals, and free for senior citizens age 60 and older with spayed/neutered pets. The household pet-count limit in Sec. 6-76 also applies to adult cats, capping a typical near-neighbor lot at three adult cats (and no more than three adult dogs and three adult cats combined).