West New York, NJ Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Section 174-34 sits in Article VII of Chapter 174 of the Code of the Town of West New York, adopted 7-21-2016 as Ord. No. 16/16 and titled Dogs and Cats Per Household; Cat Licenses. It is one sentence: every owner of a cat shall have the cat licensed as per the requirements set forth in Chapter 174. The license mechanics that Chapter 174 actually prints are written in dog terms. Section 174-2 requires a license and registration tag for each dog with the fee set in Chapter 186, Art. II, Health Department Fees, § 174-3 makes fees due on the first day of February and expiring on the 31st day of January, and § 174-6 has the Health Officer register the owner's name, address and a description of the animal.

The cap in § 174-33 applies to cats directly: no family can own, keep or harbor more than three cats and/or dogs in any combination per household, and no family can hold more than three cat/dog licenses. A family includes all residents using the premises, related or not.

Cats are covered by the droppings rule in Article II. Section 174-16 defines animals to include any animal kept or controlled, owned or not, whether a dog, cat or any other type of animal. Section 174-17 bars letting an animal soil any public sidewalk, adjacent area, public ground or park, unless the person makes a reasonable effort to clean up in good faith, and § 174-18 says the soiling is prevented when droppings are promptly gathered in a suitable bag, wrapper or other container and disposed of safely. Owners of multiple dwellings where tenants keep a cat must provide a facility for excreta under § 174-19.

Chapter 174 prints no section on feral cat colonies. Section 174-10 authorizes police officers, animal wardens and poundkeepers to take necessary action for public health and safety with respect to any animal at large, and § 174-32 places an animal control officer in the Department of Health to enforce the chapter.