Thousand Oaks, CA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Cat licensing status
- Voluntary, not mandatory
- License fee
- Set by City Council resolution
- Tags
- Not required for unlicensed cats
- Rabies-symptom isolation
- Minimum 10 days from onset
- Home isolation option
- Owners 21+ may request it
- Penalty basis
- TOMC Chapter 2, Title 1, or county fine
Summary
Thousand Oaks does not require cat owners to license their cats or make them wear tags, unlike the Los Angeles County dog rules the city otherwise adopted. TOMC § 6-1.108 makes cat licensing voluntary, at a fee set by City Council resolution, while a separate rabies-isolation rule still reaches cats that bite or show symptoms.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 6-1.100(a), cat licenses and the requirement to wear licensing tags as set forth in Sections 10.20.30 and 10.20.180 of said Los Angeles County Code, shall not be required in the City of Thousand Oaks. The licensing of a cat will be allowed on a voluntary basis at the discretion of its owner, upon payment of the license fee prescribed by City Council resolution.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-78: 2026 S-78 Supplement contains: Current city legislation passed through March 31, 2026).
Full Breakdown
100). 180 do not apply in Thousand Oaks; an owner may still license a cat voluntarily, and if they do, they pay whatever fee the City Council sets by resolution. That exemption does not remove cats from the rest of adopted Title 10. 035 to require the Director to isolate any dog or cat, licensed or not, that a veterinarian or the Health Officer believes shows rabies symptoms, or that has bitten someone, for at least ten days from the onset of symptoms, longer if a veterinarian says so.
An owner 21 or older can ask the Director to let the isolation happen at a private veterinarian, a licensed boarding kennel, or the owner's own premises instead of the shelter, and release from shelter isolation still requires payment of the fees set under that section. 075. 104 apply the same Chapter 2 of Title 1 standard to any other requirement of Chapter 1 an owner fails to meet.
Violations & Fines
Skipping voluntary cat licensing carries no penalty since it isn't required, but ignoring a rabies isolation order under § 10.72.035 or another Title 10 duty is enforced as a TOMC violation under § 6-1.100(c) and § 6-1.104, punishable under Chapter 2 of Title 1, or by an administrative fine under County Code § 10.04.075.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to license my cat in Thousand Oaks?
What happens if my cat shows signs of rabies or bites someone?
Can I keep a biting or symptomatic cat isolated at home instead of the shelter?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Thousand Oaks
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Cat Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Ventura County handle cat rules.