[1999 Code 6.08.010]
As used in this article:
ANIMAL CONTROL AUTHORITY
Means any person or agency designated or certified by the State of New Jersey or the licensing authority to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
AUTHORIZED AGENT
Means the Health Officer, sanitarian, an Animal Control Officer, a Police Officer or any other authorized representative of the Township.
CAT
Means any animal of the domestic feline species; male, female or altered.
CAT OF LICENSING AGE
Means any cat which has attained the age of seven (7) months, or which possesses a set of permanent teeth.
DWELLING UNIT
Means any single-family detached dwelling condominium, townhouse, cooperative or residential rental units.
LICENSING AUTHORITY
Means the office of the Township Clerk or any designated representative charged with administering this section and/or issuing or revoking licenses under the provision of this section.
OWNER
Means every person having a right of property (or custody) in any cat and every person who has a cat in his keeping, or who harbors or maintains a cat or knowingly permits a cat to remain on or about any premises occupied by that person. The owner of a cat shall be considered the initial owner of its kittens. A person who continually feeds a stray cat shall be considered its owner.
RUN AT LARGE
Applies to any cat not being physically restrained by the owner which is off and not on the premises of the owner.
[1999 Code § 6.08.060]
No person shall own, keep, harbor or maintain any cat of licensing age within the Township unless the cat is vaccinated against rabies and licensed. All such cats shall be vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian in accordance with the latest Compendium of Animals Rabies Vaccines and Recommendations for Immunization published by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians. Newly acquired cats of licensing age must be vaccinated within ten (10) days of acquisition and before a permit or license will be issued. Any person owning, keeping, harboring or maintaining a cat within the Township may, subject to such reasonable rules and regulations which may be established by the Health Officer, have such cat inoculated at any Township sponsored clinic for the presentation of rabies in dogs.
[1999 Code § 6.08.070]
A certificate of vaccination shall be issued to the owner of each cat vaccinated on a form recommended by the state and consistent with Township requirements.
[1999 Code § 6.08.080]
The foregoing vaccination and licensing requirements shall not apply to cats held by a State or Federally licensed research facility or a veterinary establishment where cats are received or kept for diagnostic, medical, surgical or other treatment, or licensed animal shelters, pounds, kennels or pet shops.
[1999 Code § 6.08.090]
A cat may be exempted from the requirements of vaccination for a specified period of time by an authorized agent upon presentation of a veterinarian's certificate stating that because of an infirmity or other physical condition, regimen or therapy, the inoculation for the cat is deemed inadvisable.
[1999 Code § 6.08.100]
Any person who owns, keeps, harbors or maintains a cat of licensing age must apply and procure annually from the licensing authority a license and official registration tag with license number for each cat so owned, kept, harbored or maintained. Licenses and registration tags shall not be transferable.
[1999 Code § 6.08.110]
Cat licenses shall be applied for and procured between January 1 and January 31 of each year. The owner of any newly acquired cat of licensing age, or any cat which attains licensing age during any other period, must purchase a license within ten (10) days of such acquisition or age attainment.
[1999 Code § 6.08.120]
a. 
Any person who brings or causes any cat of licensing age to be brought into the Township which is licensed in another state for the then current year and which bears a registration tag may keep or permit said cat to be kept within the Township for a period of no more than ninety (90) days, unless a license and registration tag for such cat is applied for and procured pursuant to the provisions of this section.
b. 
Any person who brings or causes to be brought any unlicensed cat of licensing age into the Township may keep or permit the cat to be kept within the Township for a period of no more than ten (10) days, unless a license and registration tag for such cat is applied for and procured pursuant to the provisions of this section.
c. 
Any valid New Jersey license and registration tag or similar type identification markers issued by a New Jersey Municipality shall be accepted by the Township as evidence of compliance with the provisions of this section for the year of issuance of such license.
[1999 Code § 6.08.130]
The application shall state breed, sex, whether or not neutered, date of birth, color and markings of the cat for which license and registration tag are sought, and whether it is of a long or short haired variety; and the names, streets and mailing addressees of the owner and the person, if other than the owner, who shall keep, harbor or maintain the cat. The information on the application and the registration number issued for the cat shall be preserved for a period of three years by the licensing authority.
[1999 Code § 6.08.140]
License forms and registration tags shall be furnished by the licensing authority, shall be numbered sequentially, shall bear the year of validity and the name of the Township. Licenses and registration tags shall be valid from January 1 of a given year through January 31 of the immediately succeeding year.
[1999 Code § 6.08.150]
The Township Clerk or other person designated by the licensing authority to license cats shall not grant a license for any cat unless written proof is provided that the cat to be licensed has been inoculated with a rabies vaccine of a type approved by and administered in accordance with the recommendations of the United States Department of Human Services, or has been certified as exempt as provided in subsection 9-8.4. The rabies inoculation shall be administered by a duly licensed veterinarian.
[1999 Code § 6.08.160]
A license shall be issued upon payment of the fee as stated in Article IV, Fee Schedule, by the person applying therefor. Proof of neutering shall be required prior to issuance of a license at the rate for neutered cat(s).
[1999 Code § 6.08.170]
The owner shall place and maintain upon each such cat a collar, harness, or other device with the registration tag securely fastened thereto. Proof of licensing shall be produced by any person owning, keeping, maintaining or harboring a cat upon the request of any authorized agent of the Township.
[1999 Code § 6.08.190]
License fees and other moneys collected or received under the provisions of this chapter shall be forwarded to the Township Treasurer and shall be placed in a separate account to be used for the following purposes only; collecting, keeping and disposing of animals liable to seizure; local control of rabies; providing anti-rabies treatment for any person known or suspected to have been exposed to rabies; and for administering and implementing the provisions of this chapter.
[Ord. No. O.1856-2014§ 3]
Any person who violates or who fails or refuses to comply with this section shall be liable to a penalty of fifty ($50.00) dollars for each offense. Appearance before a Municipal Court Judge will not be required unless specified and duly noted on the summons. A violator may plead guilty and pay any penalty in person or by mail.
[1999 Code § 6.08.200]
a. 
An authorized agent may take cats into custody and impound and later destroy them, release them to the owner, or offer them for adoption, as provided within this section, in the following situations:
1. 
The owner does not produce a current license or registration tag for a cat which is required to be licensed; or
2. 
A cat is suspected to be a stray, abandoned, diseased, injured or to have bitten a person or other animal pursuant to N.J.S.A. 26:4-82.
b. 
If any cat is taken into custody whose owner is known or which is wearing a registration tag, an authorized agent shall attempt to contact the owner. If the cat is not claimed by the owner or contact cannot be made with the owner within forty-eight (48) hours of seizure, a notice in writing will be sent to the owner stating that the cat has been seized and is subject to being offered for adoption or destroyed if not claimed within seven (7) days after the service of the notice.
c. 
A notice under this section shall be deemed to be effective if served personally, or by leaving it at the person's usual or last known place of abode or at the address given in the license application, or by mailing to any such address by United States mail, postage prepaid.
d. 
An authorized agent may cause a cat to be offered for adoption or destroyed in a manner causing as little pain as possible and consistent with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 4:22-19 seven (7) days after seizure, provided that:
1. 
The cat was not wearing a valid registration tag at the time of seizure and the owner is unknown; or
2. 
A notice was served as provided and the cat was not claimed; or
3. 
The owner or person keeping or harboring a cat which was unlicensed at the time of seizure does not within a reasonable period of time produce a valid license and registration tag for the cat.
[1999 Code § 6.08.050]
No owner shall permit or allow, either willfully or negligently, any cat to create a nuisance upon the property of another or to destroy or deface the property of another, whether the same be real or personal.