Seattle SMC 9.25.050 requires every cat over eight weeks to be licensed annually with the Seattle Animal Shelter. Washington RCW 16.30 (King County code 8.04) requires current rabies vaccination for all cats and dogs.
Seattle treats cats and dogs equally for licensing under SMC 9.25.050: every cat over eight weeks must wear a current SAS pet license tag. Annual fees run roughly $30 unaltered, $20 spayed/neutered, with senior and low-income discounts. Cats are not required to be leashed but cannot run at large under SMC 9.25.084 (running at large includes cats). Outdoor cats wearing tags get returned home rather than impounded. Rabies vaccination is mandatory under King County Board of Health Code 8.04 and reinforced by RCW 16.30; cats lacking proof at impound must be vaccinated before release. TNR (trap-neuter-return) for community cats is supported by SAS; ear-tipped strays are not impounded.
Unlicensed cat: $54 first offense; doubles on repeat. Cat at large impound: $30 plus boarding $25/day. No rabies vaccination: $54 plus mandatory vaccine.
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