Turlock, CA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- TMC § 6-1-115
- Registration
- Required before feeding feral cats
- Spay/neuter age
- 8 weeks or older
- ID method
- Ear-tipping trapped cats
- Vaccination
- Rabies required for trapped cats
Summary
Feeding feral cats in Turlock requires registering as a caretaker with Animal Services and agreeing to trap, spay/neuter, vaccinate, and ear-tip every cat you feed.
It shall be unlawful for any person within the City of Turlock to intentionally provide food, water, or other forms of sustenance to a feral cat unless the person furnishes Animal Services and Control with a signed statement agreeing to all of the following conditions: (1) Register with Animal Services and Control as a caretaker of feral cats; (2) Feed feral cat(s) daily in a manner that does not leave excess food in the area; (3) Regularly trap and spay/neuter cats over the age of eight (8) weeks...
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4937289; v6 updated 2026-06-25).
Full Breakdown
TMC § 6-1-115 makes it unlawful to intentionally feed a feral cat unless the feeder has filed a signed statement with Animal Services and Control agreeing to register as caretaker, feed daily without leaving excess food, trap and spay/neuter cats over eight weeks old, test and isolate or euthanize FeLV/FIV-positive cats, ear-tip trapped cats for identification, and get them rabies-vaccinated. Turlock does not license cats generally: this section governs only feral colony feeding.
Violations & Fines
Feeding feral cats without a signed caretaker agreement on file with Animal Services and Control violates TMC § 6-1-115.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to feed stray cats in Turlock?
What must a registered feral cat caretaker do?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Turlock
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Cat Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle cat rules.