Southaven, MS Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Rabies vaccine age
- Three months of age or older
- Tag
- Metal tag with serial number and year, worn at all times
- Fines under Sec. 3-16
- $25, $50 and $75 for offenses one through three
- Household limit
- Five dogs and cats combined; ten in agricultural zones
- Enforcement
- Division of animal control and city police department
- Impound hold
- Not less than five working days for healthy cats
Summary
In the City of Southaven, Mississippi, every cat three months of age or older must be vaccinated against rabies and must wear a metal tag stamped with the vaccination serial number and year, worn at all times. Sec. 3-16 sets fines of $25, $50 and $75 for a first, second and third offense, enforced by the division of animal control.
(a)Required. Any person owning, keeping, harboring or having custody of any dog or cat three (3) months of age or older within the city shall have that animal vaccinated against rabies with the approved dosage of an approved antirabic virus (vaccine) properly administered by a person legally authorized to do so; it shall be unlawful for any person to own or have in his possession any dog or cat not so vaccinated. ... (b)Tag bearing vaccination serial numbers to be worn. The owner of any dog or cat shall see that the animal wears a securely bradded metal tag with the serial number of the vaccination and the year in which the animal was inoculated stamped thereon and shall see that the collar and tag are worn by the animal at all times.(c)Penalties for violations. The failure to comply with this section shall constitute a misdemeanor, and the offender shall, on conviction thereof, be fined twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the first offense, fifty dollars ($50.00) for the second offense and seventy-five dollars ($75.00) for the third offense. It shall be the duty of the division of animal control to enforce this section.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 3-16 reaches any person owning, keeping, harboring or having custody of a cat three (3) months of age or older within the city. That person must have the cat vaccinated against rabies with an approved antirabic vaccine, properly administered by a person legally authorized to give it, and the vaccination must follow the Compendium of Animal Rabies Vaccines prepared by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. Owning or possessing an unvaccinated cat of that age is unlawful on its face. The owner must also see that the cat wears a securely bradded metal tag stamped with the vaccination serial number and the year of inoculation, and that the collar and tag are worn at all times.
Other sections of Title III name cats directly. Sec. 3-9(c) limits a household to five (5) dogs and cats in any combination over the age of three (3) months in any area zoned other than agricultural, and to ten (10) in areas zoned agricultural. Sec. 3-15(a)(1) requires every owner to exercise proper care and control of animals including cats, and Sec. 3-15(c) makes the owner remove fecal matter a cat leaves on public walks, streets, recreation areas or the private property of another. Sec. 3-17 makes it unlawful for the owner of any animal to permit it to run at large, and Sec. 3-1 defines running at large as any animal not under restraint.
A cat that is picked up has a defined path. Sec. 3-17(b) allows animals running at large to be impounded, and Sec. 3-22(a) keeps impounded dogs and cats that are not suffering from an injury or infectious disease for not less than five (5) working days. The owner reclaims the animal by paying an impoundment fee approved by the mayor, and an owner who claims an unvaccinated pet must arrange vaccination to the satisfaction of the animal control supervisor. After five working days the animal becomes city property and goes into the adoption process or is humanely euthanized. Sec. 3-25 covers voluntary surrender: a resident who relinquishes a cat to the animal shelter pays a fee and shows proof of residency in the City of Southaven.
Violations & Fines
Failing to comply with Sec. 3-16 is a misdemeanor, and on conviction the offender is fined $25 for the first offense, $50 for the second and $75 for the third. Sec. 3-3 separately sets a fine of not less than $25 and not more than $1,000, up to ninety (90) days in the county jail, or both, for Title III violations without a stated penalty, and each day's violation is a separate offense. Under Sec. 3-2(b) an officer can issue a written citation to appear in municipal court.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old must a cat be before it needs a rabies vaccination in Southaven?
Does my cat have to wear a tag?
How many cats can I keep at my home in Southaven?
What happens if animal control impounds my cat?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Southaven
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