Weld County, CO Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Cat license
- Not required
- Cat leash law
- None county-wide
- Animal code covers
- Dogs only
- Pet-limit
- Cats count as household pets
- Abandonment
- Cruelty under C.R.S. 18-9-202
Summary
Weld County has no cat ordinance: the animal code (Chapter 14, Article IV) regulates dogs only, so cats need no county license or leash. Cats still count as household pets toward the zoning pet limit, and abandoning or neglecting a cat is animal cruelty under Colorado law.
Any person who intentionally abandons a dog or cat commits the offense of cruelty to animals.
Full Breakdown
Weld County Code Chapter 14, Article IV is titled and written for the control and licensing of dogs; it contains no cat leash, license, or at-large rule, so cats are not required to be licensed or restrained in unincorporated Weld County. Cats do count as "household pets" under Zoning Sec. 23-3-70(D), so they count toward the four-of-one-species or seven-of-two-plus-species limit per lot. Colorado's animal-cruelty statute, C.R.S. 18-9-202, protects cats: intentionally abandoning a cat is cruelty to animals, as is failing to provide proper food, water, or shelter. Incorporated towns such as Greeley may impose their own cat rules, so residents inside city limits should check the municipal code.
Violations & Fines
There is no county cat-license or leash penalty. Intentionally abandoning or neglecting a cat is cruelty to animals under C.R.S. 18-9-202, a misdemeanor that can rise to a felony for aggravated cruelty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do cats have to be licensed in Weld County?
Is it illegal to abandon a cat?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Weld County
Compare Weld County to another location·View the Colorado animal ordinances overview
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