(A) It is unlawful for any person within the incorporated area of the city to intentionally provide food, water or other forms of sustenance to a feral cat colony unless the person furnishes the Manager of Animal Services with a signed statement agreeing to the following conditions:
(1) Register with the Manager of Animal Services as caring for feral cats;
(2) Regularly feed the cat colony, including weekends and holidays;
(3) Regularly and frequently trap the cats over the age of eight weeks and have them spayed or neutered at the private individual's own cost;
(4) Arrange to have all trapped cats tested for feline leukemia and feline immune deficiency virus, and to have those who test positive humanely euthanized or isolated indoors;
(5) Identify all trapped cats by tipping their ears, to be done by a veterinarian at the time of sterilization; and
(6) Arrange to have all trapped cats vaccinated for rabies in addition to any other vaccination or immunization requirement imposed by the state.
(B) It is unlawful for any person within the incorporated area of the city to intentionally provide food, water or other forms of sustenance to a group of two or more domesticated cats not belonging to that person, causing the cats to congregate in a particular area or neighborhood.
(C) In lieu of acting under divisions (A) and (B) above, the Manager of Animal Services may authorize the humane seizure of any cat at large by an animal control officer or private citizen for determination of whether it has been spayed or neutered and may authorize the submittal of the cat at large to Tulare Animal Services Facility to be neutered or spayed and vaccinated. After being altered, the cat may then be released in the area where it was found at the discretion of the animal services division operating such spay/neuter and release program as a means to help control the community cat population. Acting under the authority of this section shall be at the discretion of the Manager of Animal Services.
(Ord. 2022-11, passed 8-16-2022; Ord. 17-13, passed 12-19-2017)