Feral Cat Laws by State 2026

Feral Cat Laws in the United States

States take different approaches to regulating feral cats. Some have laws that specifically address feral or community cat populations, often tied to animal control policies or trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs.

Other states rely on broader animal cruelty laws rather than dedicated feral cat statutes. In places without statewide rules, local governments may set their own policies for managing feral cat colonies and caretakers.

States With Specific Feral Cat Laws

Some states have enacted laws that directly address feral or community cats. These statutes may define feral cats in state law, regulate how animal control agencies handle them, or establish guidelines for programs such as trap-neuter-return (TNR).

States with specific feral cat laws include Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

States Covered by Animal Cruelty Laws

Some states do not have laws that specifically address feral cats but still regulate their treatment under broader animal cruelty statutes. These laws generally prohibit acts such as abuse, neglect, or unnecessary harm to animals, regardless of whether the animals are owned or unowned.

States where feral cats are primarily covered under general animal cruelty laws include Arizona and Nevada.

States With No Specific Feral Cat Laws

Some states do not have statewide laws that specifically address feral cat populations. In these jurisdictions, state statutes generally do not define feral cats or establish rules for managing colonies or caretakers.

States without specific feral cat laws include Alabama, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and North Dakota.