This law states that each kitten in a litter, whether they have been weaned from their mother or not, is considered an individual animal under this legal division.

This law states that public animal shelters and rescue groups in California cannot sell or give away cats that haven't been spayed or neutered, unless a vet certifies that doing so would harm the cat's health.

If the cat can't be spayed or neutered for health reasons, a deposit between $40 and $75 must be paid, which is refunded once the adopter gets the cat spayed or neutered and provides proof.

The deposit is temporary and should encourage people to get their cats spayed or neutered once they are healthy. Shelters can collaborate with vets instead of requiring deposits.

Any unclaimed deposits can only be used for cat and dog spay or neuter programs. This law applies only to counties and cities with populations over 100,000 as of 2000.

If you're a veteran with a driver's license or ID that shows your veteran status, you can adopt a cat from a public animal shelter without paying an adoption fee.

However, the shelter can limit these adoptions to one cat every six months.

If a city or county has a program requiring cats to have license tags, they must offer a discount on the fee by at least 50% if you provide proof from a vet that your cat is spayed or neutered.

If you own a licensed cattery, you might not have to get a license tag for every cat you have. This can happen if there is a regulation or local rule that allows for this exemption.

If your cat, which hasn't been spayed or neutered, ends up in an animal shelter, you'll face increasing fines: $35 the first time, $50 the second, and $100 for each time after that. These fines add up on top of any existing fees from local shelters or animal control agencies.

Officers can issue tickets with these fines, and the money collected goes towards educational and spay/neuter programs, and to help cover shelter costs.

Any local rules about adopting or placing pets must be just as strict as these state rules. This law applies to all cities and counties, big or small.

If a cat is spayed or neutered according to this law, the owner can't sue the shelter for doing so.

This law explains the rules for how long a stray cat must be kept in a shelter before it can be adopted or euthanized. Normally, a stray cat must be held for six business days so the owner can reclaim it, but if the shelter has special hours or arrangements, the period can be four days. For the first three days, the cat can only be reclaimed by its owner. After that, it can be adopted by someone else. For very young kittens under eight weeks old thought to be unowned, they can be adopted right away.

If a nonprofit animal rescue or adoption group wants the cat, the shelter has to give it to the group before euthanizing it. The shelter can charge a fee but no more than their usual adoption fee. They must try to find the cat's owner by checking for a microchip and reaching out if possible. A 'business day' is a day when the shelter is open for at least four hours, not counting state holidays.

This law requires animal shelters, rescue groups, or similar organizations to ensure cats are microchipped before being reclaimed by an owner or adopted to a new owner. If they don't have the microchipping service on-site, they must provide information on local, affordable microchipping services and get a commitment from the owner to microchip the cat within 30 days.

Exceptions are made if a veterinarian finds the cat unfit for microchipping, or if it would be a financial burden for the owner. Fines may be imposed for non-compliance, but those without microchipping capability aren't fined if they follow specific procedures. This requirement doesn't apply to cats temporarily housed due to emergency evacuation orders.

If you want to give up a cat to a shelter, you must show ID to prove you own the cat and sign a statement saying you are the rightful owner. If you lie about owning the cat, you have to pay the real owner $1,000.

This law acknowledges the different temperaments of domestic cats, including indoor and unsocialized outdoor cats known as feral cats. It recognizes the difficulty in distinguishing feral cats from frightened tame cats and the cruelty of keeping feral cats caged for long periods. A feral cat is one without owner identification, with a temperament of extreme fear and resistance to human contact.

If a cat believed to be feral is not reclaimed within the first three days of a holding period, shelter staff must verify its temperament using a standard process. If the cat is found to be tame, it must be held for the full holding period. If truly feral, it can be euthanized or given to a nonprofit adoption group that will ensure it is spayed or neutered. The shelter may charge an adoption fee for the released animal.

This law states that if animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and others are taken to a shelter, they have to be treated just like cats and dogs in terms of how long they're kept, how they're cared for, and their chances of being reclaimed or adopted. Shelters can make deals with animal rescue groups for these animals, similar to the deals they make for dogs and cats. Additionally, shelters can charge an adoption fee, but it can't be higher than the usual adoption fee.

This section says that if someone gives up an animal that is usually found in shelters, that animal must be treated the same way as stray dogs and cats. It should be cared for and made available for its original owner to reclaim or for adoption during the entire holding period.

However, if kittens or puppies are given up, they can be put up for adoption or handed over to a nonprofit animal rescue group right away, if the group asks for them.