Santa Ana requires cats four months and older to wear identification and follow nuisance rules. Owners cannot allow cats to repeatedly damage neighboring property, and OC Animal Care impounds at-large cats found running loose throughout the city limits.
SAMC Chapter 6 covers domestic animals, and Santa Ana contracts with OC Animal Care in Tustin for sheltering and licensing. Cats must wear collars or microchips with current owner information so impounded animals can be returned. The code prohibits any owner from allowing a cat to habitually trespass, defecate, or damage another resident's yard. Trap-neuter-return colonies operated by registered caretakers receive limited protection. Repeated nuisance complaints can trigger citations under the public nuisance provisions, and unaltered cats face higher impound fees through the OC Animal Care fee schedule adopted by the City Council.
First nuisance citation runs about 100 dollars, second 200, and third 500 dollars plus impound fees, board, and possible misdemeanor charges if owner ignores notices.
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See how other cities in Orange County handle cat rules.
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