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

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

At-large defined as
cat off owner's property, unrestrained
Vaccination required at
4 months of age
Vaccination deadline for new owners
30 calendar days
County cat license
not required (unlike dogs)
Unvaccinated cat penalty
infraction under § 7.04.250

Summary

Cats in unincorporated Merced County can't run loose off their owner's property (the ordinance defines 'at large' to include an unrestrained cat), and every cat over four months old must carry a current rabies vaccination. Unlike dogs, cats aren't required to hold a county license.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Merced County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Every cat over four months of age shall have a medically current vaccination with an appropriate antirabies vaccine approved by the California State Department of Health Services.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4930839; v8 updated 2026-06-02).

Full Breakdown

040(A)(1) makes it unlawful for any owner or custodian to permit an animal, including a cat, to be at large. 210(C). An owner must keep the rabies certificate and show it to a peace or public officer on demand. 260, cats in the unincorporated county are not required to be licensed; the vaccination duty is the countywide baseline for cats. 100. 010, covering any domestic animal living wild or that has escaped ownership for a substantial period, and are handled through the county's general impoundment and shelter provisions rather than a distinct colony-management program.

Violations & Fines

A cat running at large is a Section 7.04.040 violation, penalized as an infraction under Section 7.04.320 with fines of $50, $100, and $250 for successive violations, escalating to a misdemeanor with up to $1,000 or six months in jail for a second or later offense. An unvaccinated cat is a separate infraction under Section 7.04.250.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to license my cat in unincorporated Merced County?
No. Section 7.04.260 requires an annual license only for dogs; cats are not subject to a county licensing requirement, though they must still be vaccinated under Section 7.04.210.
Can my cat legally roam outside without a leash?
A cat off its owner's property with no physical restraint meets the definition of 'at large' under Section 7.04.010, and Section 7.04.040 makes it unlawful for an owner to permit that.
When does my cat need its rabies shot?
Section 7.04.210(A) and (B) require every cat over four months old to carry a current antirabies vaccination, and new owners of an older unvaccinated cat have 30 calendar days to comply.
What happens if animal control picks up my unvaccinated cat?
An unvaccinated cat is an infraction under Section 7.04.250 and may also count as failing to provide proper care under Section 7.04.100; repeated violations escalate to a misdemeanor under Section 7.04.320.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Merced County

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All Merced County rules

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