Vermilion Parish, LA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Vermilion Parish Code § 6-12 defines a cat as any animal of the feline species, and the Code treats cats and dogs together for registration. Section 6-52(a) requires every person who owns or possesses a dog or cat three months or older within the parish to register the animal with the Vermilion Parish Animal and Rabies Control. Under subsection (b), the owner presents a certificate signed by a Louisiana-licensed veterinarian certifying that the animal was inoculated on an earlier date and is immune for the registration period. Under subsection (c), the veterinarian furnishes a numbered metal tag for each animal, to be attached to its collar, showing the calendar year or years the inoculation covers.

Registration, certificate and tag are effective for not less than one year and not more than three years from the date of registration, and the vaccination records are kept at the Animal and Rabies Control facility for five years. Subsection (e) directs animal control officers to seize and impound any dog or cat over three months old that has not been inoculated and registered, holding it for not more than four days with a $15.00 first day boarding fee and $5.00 per day thereafter. If nobody claims the animal within four calendar days and the requirements are not met, officers humanely destroy it or place it with a rescue, the humane society or an adoption. Subsection (f) requires impounding any dog, cat or other animal that has bitten a human being, or has been bitten by an animal suspected of having rabies, for ten days or longer for observation.

The at-large rule in § 6-83 covers cats by name: no one may permit a cat to roam at large on public roads, public places or land the owner does not own unless it is in the owner's immediate presence and under restraint. Section 6-84 applies to any pet animal, meaning any dog or cat, that disturbs the peace by barking, whining, howling or other noise. Section 6-12 defines a nuisance animal or stray to include a pet animal that is at large, has not been spayed or neutered, or is a vicious dog. Under § 6-150, there is no adoption program for individuals at this time, and § 6-149 bars transfer of a cat known to have bitten a person or another animal without justifiable provocation. The Code does not use the word feral, so no separate feral colony program is printed in it.