Shelby County, TN Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Cat leash law
- None (cats exempt, Sec. 4-131)
- Rabies vaccination
- Required at 3 months (Sec. 4-65)
- Licensing
- Annual, tag on collar (Sec. 4-68)
- Diseased cats
- May not be at large
- Cat in heat
- Must be confined (Sec. 4-131c)
Summary
Shelby County exempts cats from the dog at-large ban (Sec. 4-131), so cats are not required to be leashed. But every cat three months or older must be vaccinated against rabies (Sec. 4-65) and licensed annually (Sec. 4-68), and diseased cats may not be allowed at large.
Any person who owns or keeps in the county a dog or cat three months of age or older shall cause the animal to be licensed annually.
Full Breakdown
Cats are treated differently from dogs in the animal Code. The Sec. 4-131(a) at-large prohibition applies to animals 'other than a cat,' so there is no county cat leash requirement; but the same subsection makes it unlawful to allow a diseased cat to be at large. Cats are fully covered by vaccination and licensing rules: Sec. 4-65 requires any cat three months or older to be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian, and Sec. 4-68 requires annual licensing with a tag on its collar. A female cat in heat must be confined so it is inaccessible to males (Sec. 4-131(c)). A cat that bites a person may be impounded for rabies observation under Sec. 4-137.
Violations & Fines
Keeping an unvaccinated or unlicensed cat violates Secs. 4-65 and 4-68, and letting a diseased cat at large or a cat in heat roam violates Sec. 4-131. Each is fined up to $50 per day; biting cats may be impounded.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do cats have to be on a leash in Shelby County?
Do I have to license and vaccinate my cat?
What if my cat bites someone?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Shelby County
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