[Adopted 9-9-2025 by Ord. No. 4471-25]
COLONY
Shall mean a single or group of free-roaming cats that are provided with food, shelter, or care by a person or organization.
FREE-ROAMING CAT
Shall mean any cat that is not confined to an owner's property or is not under the direct control of an owner.
MULTIPLE DWELLINGS PROPERTY
Shall mean a property such as but not limited to apartments, condominiums, or housing associations. This includes any property where the cat colony is located in a common area.
A. 
No person shall knowingly feed any free-roaming cat in the Township of Franklin unless that cat is spayed or neutered as documented by a licensed veterinarian. Anyone feeding such cat or cats must verify that these conditions have been met. Verification shall consist of:
(1) 
Documentation from a licensed veterinarian indicating spay/neuter status.
(2) 
A photograph of the cat.
(3) 
Confirmation the cat's ear is tipped.
(4) 
Proof of rabies vaccination.
B. 
This verification must also include the cat's gender, color, breed, and free-roaming status. Owners must produce this documentation upon request by the Franklin Township Animal Control Officer (FTACO).
A. 
Owners of outdoor cat colonies must register their colony with the Animal Control Office annually. To register, the owner must:
(1) 
Photograph each cat.
(2) 
Spay or neuter each cat.
(3) 
Vaccinate each cat for rabies in accordance with N.J.A.C. 8:23A-4.2.
(4) 
Ensure the cat is ear-tipped.
(5) 
Provide the location of the cat colony.
B. 
The Animal Control Officer may grant exemptions for rabies vaccination if the owner has made reasonable attempts to re-trap cats and if the risk to public health is deemed low. There shall be no fee for registering a cat colony.
A. 
If the cat colony is located at a commercial or single resident property, the property owner must register the cat colony.
B. 
If the cat colony is located at a multiple dwellings property, the property owner (or property manager on behalf of the owner or homeowner's association) must register the cat colony.
Recognizing the difficulty of managing large colonies, the Animal Control Officer, at their discretion, may grant a compliance schedule not to exceed 90 days for persons feeding multiple free-roaming cats. The schedule must be agreed upon with the Township and the designated Animal Control Officer.
A. 
No person owning, harboring, or in charge of any cat shall allow such cat to:
(1) 
Soil, defile, or defecate on private or public property.
(2) 
Cause property damage.
(3) 
Interfere with the enjoyment of private or public property.
B. 
Upon receipt of a nuisance complaint about a colony cat, the owner must resolve the issue or remove the cat at their own expense. Failure to abate the nuisance or remove the cat within 30 calendar days shall be deemed a violation of this article.
It shall be considered animal abandonment if an owner, by direct or indirect means, willfully or negligently abandons any cat or colony within Franklin Township. This includes circumstances such as moving, selling, eviction, or ceasing care of the colony. In the event of the owner's death, the land or property owner shall assume responsibility for the colony.
A. 
Food shall only be left outdoors for a period not exceeding one hour and all plates/bowls shall be removed/discarded after each one hour feeding. Food must be on a plate/bowl and not scattered on the ground.
B. 
Rabies booster inoculations shall be administered to each cat in accordance with N.J.A.C. 8:23A-4.2.
C. 
Veterinary care shall be provided for any cat that exhibits illness or injury.
D. 
All new cats joining the colony are subject to all the requirements of this article.
A. 
This article shall be enforced by the Township Animal Control Officer, the Franklin Township Police Department, or any employee so designated by the Township Manager.
B. 
Violations of this article are subject to the following penalties:
(1) 
A fine not to exceed $100 for the first offense.
(2) 
A fine not to exceed $200 for the second offense.
(3) 
A fine not to exceed $500 for each subsequent offense.
(4) 
Upon a third or subsequent conviction for a violation of this article, the Court may order the surrender of all cats in the colony to the Animal Control Office at the colony owner's expense.