St. Clair County, IL Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Registration required
- Cats 4 months+
- Altered cat fee
- $10 per year
- Unaltered cat fee
- $20 per year
- Rabies shot
- Required, licensed vet
- Cat leash law
- None county-wide
Summary
St. Clair County requires every cat four months or older to be registered annually and rabies-vaccinated. There is no county cat leash law, but cats found running at large can be impounded and redeemed like dogs. Cities may add their own cat rules.
Every person who is or has been a resident of this County for thirty (30) days or more and who is the owner of any dog or cat, four (4) months or more of age, shall cause such dog or cat to be registered and shall pay an annual fee.
Full Breakdown
Under 3-3-1, any resident owner of a cat four months or older 'shall cause such cat to be registered' and pay an annual fee - $10 for a spayed/neutered cat and $20 for an unaltered cat. Section 3-4-1 requires every cat four months or older, not confined at all times, to be rabies-inoculated by a licensed veterinarian at state-set intervals. Impounded cats are handled like dogs (3-4-4): the owner must show current registration and rabies proof and pay board of $5 per day to redeem. The Code does not impose a cat leash requirement, but keeping cats does not exempt owners from nuisance and rabies-observation rules (3-4-8) after a bite.
Violations & Fines
Owners who fail to register a cat after 60 days' actual notice may face court proceedings (3-3-1). General violations are a petty offense fined $75-$200 for the first or second offense (3-4-14).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to register my cat?
Can my cat roam outdoors?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Clair County
Compare St. Clair County to another location·View the Illinois animal ordinances overview
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