Scranton, PA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

City Code Section 169-3, Livestock and cats prohibited at large; impoundment, treats cats the same as farm animals for at-large purposes. Subsection A bars an owner or harborer from causing or permitting a horse, mare, gelding, mule, ox, cow, bull, goat, sheep, hog or cat to run at large upon the City's streets, avenues, courts, public grounds or unenclosed land. Subsection B declares any such animal found running at large a public and common nuisance and directs any police officer to seize it and take it to the City pound.

If, after four days of public notice, no one claims the animal and pays the fine plus the costs of keeping and seizing it, the City poundmaster sells it at public sale, with proceeds going to the City Treasurer. Cats also fall under the separate quarantine power in Section 169-4: the Director of the Office of Public Health may declare up to a six-month quarantine period each year during which any cat found running at large is deemed a public nuisance, and a police officer, on the Director of Public Safety's orders, is authorized to shoot or otherwise kill any cat found running at large during that window.

Chapter 169's pound and poundmaster system, set up under Section 169-2, is run by the Director of the Department of Public Safety, who may establish a pound anywhere in the City and employ a poundmaster to take custody of impounded animals.