Waukesha, WI Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Cats per household
- 2 (over 6 months old)
- License required at age
- 5 months
- License process
- Same as dog licensing, Wis. Stat. §174.05/.07
- Retail cat sales
- Banned citywide (§33.06)
- Waste accumulation limit
- 24 hours on private property
Summary
Waukesha caps household cats at two over 6 months old and requires an annual license once a cat turns 5 months, obtained the same way the state requires dog licensing; running-at-large and waste rules also apply to cats.
No person shall keep or maintain more than 2 cats over the age of 6 months in any household in the City. Every owner of a cat more than 5 months of age on January 1 of any year or 5 months of age within the license year shall annually or on or before the date the cat becomes 5 months of age pay a cat license fee and obtain a license in the same manner as is provided for the licensing of dogs under §§174.05 and 174.07, Wis. Stats.
Full Breakdown
03 sets the core cat rule: no person may keep or maintain more than 2 cats over the age of 6 months in any household in the City. 07, Wis. Stats. 01's running-at-large rule: an owner must prevent a cat from being off its premises and outside the owner's physical control, by the same standard applied to dogs. The chapter's waste rules apply equally to cats: an owner may not let solid fecal matter be deposited on any street, alley or public or private property unless immediately removed, and property owners cannot let animal waste accumulate on their own land, including the strip between the street and the sidewalk, for more than 24 hours.
06: no retailer holding a Wisconsin seller's permit may sell cats, dogs or rabbits in the City, though animal care facilities and 501(c)(3) rescue organizations may still display cats for adoption at no cost. 03(1).
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the two-cat limit, failing to license a cat, or letting a cat run at large or leave waste unremoved under §§33.01 and 33.03 is a violation subject to Municipal Code §25.05's general penalty: $10 to $2,500 for a first offense plus prosecution costs, and $100 to $5,000 for a subsequent offense, with each day of continuing violation a separate offense. Selling a cat in violation of §33.06's retail ban carries a separate civil penalty under §25.05, with each animal offered for sale counted as its own violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cats can I keep in Waukesha?
Do I need to license my cat in Waukesha?
Can a pet store sell cats in Waukesha?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Waukesha
Compare Waukesha to another location·View the Wisconsin animal ordinances overview
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