Warren, MI Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- At-large rule
- Cats must be confined/controlled at all times
- Age exemption
- Kittens under 4 months exempt
- Household limit
- 3 adult cats per premises
- TNR feeding window
- Once daily, 30 min, 5-10 a.m.
- Official policy
- TNR is the city's preferred method
Summary
Warren requires cats over four months old to be confined or under control at all times, caps households at three adult cats, and endorses trap-neuter-return as its official policy for managing community cat colonies, with detailed feeding and shelter rules for registered caregivers.
Sec. 7-99: It shall be unlawful for any person in the city to have possession or custody of any cat without having it under control and/or confined to his or her premises at all times... Sec. 7-101: It shall be unlawful for any owner or tenant to possess, harbor, shelter or keep more than three (3) adult cats, at any residential dwelling unit or commercial or industrial premises, excepting kennels, veterinary hospitals and pet shops. ... Sec. 7-105: The City of Warren declares that the preferred method for controlling the community cat population is through trap-neuter-return ("TNR"). ... Food shall be provided in the proper quantity for the number of cats being managed and is to be supplied no more than once per day, for only thirty (30) minutes each feeding time between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 102).
Full Breakdown
City Code Sec. 7-99 makes it unlawful to possess or have custody of a cat in the city without keeping it under control and/or confined to the owner's premises at all times, exempting only cats under four months old when proof of age is shown to police or animal control on request. Sec. 7-101 separately caps possession at three adult cats (six months or older) per residential, commercial, or industrial premises, excepting kennels, veterinary hospitals, and pet shops, and independently bans keeping cats in a way that creates a noise, odor, or other nuisance.
For community cats, Sec. , in secure containers kept sanitary, with clean water and, if provided, unobtrusive shelter sized for the cats. Trapping is allowed only for TNR purposes or injury-related veterinary need, and an ear-tipped cat received by animal control must be returned to its trapping location with no hold period unless it needs veterinary care. All three sections were adopted under Ord. No. 80-834, effective June 24, 2025.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 7-99's at-large violation and Sec. 7-101's three-cat limit and nuisance-keeping violation fall under Chapter 7's general misdemeanor and impoundment framework, subjecting an owner to citation, animal control seizure, and court-ordered penalties chapter-wide; the code does not set a separate stand-alone fine figure within Sec. 7-99 or 7-101 itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can cats roam freely in Warren?
How many cats can I have in Warren?
Does Warren allow feeding feral cat colonies?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Warren
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Cat Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Macomb County handle cat rules.