[Adopted 7-22-1991 by Ord. No. 91-12]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CAT
Any member of the domestic feline species, male, female or altered.
CAT OF LICENSING AGE
Any cat which has attained the age of six months.
CATTERY
A room, group of rooms, cage, exhibition pen or kennel where cats are kept for organized shows or breeding for exhibition, for sale or for display.
HARBORING
Maintaining custody, possession or control over a cat or permitting a cat to remain on premises or providing shelter or food.
LICENSING AUTHORITY
The agency or department of the Borough of Clementon or any designated representative thereof charged with administering the issuance and/or revocation of permits and licenses under the provisions of this article.
NEUTERED
Rendered permanently incapable of reproduction as certified by a licensed veterinarian.
OWNER
Includes every person having a right of property or custody in a cat and every person who has such cat in his/her keeping, possession or control or who harbors or maintains a cat or knowingly permits a cat to remain on or about any premises occupied by the owner.
POSSESSING/POSSESSION
See the definition for "harboring."
PUBLIC NUISANCE
A cat that damages or harms persons or public or private property.
A. 
Vaccination. All cats as defined must be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian in accordance with the guidelines of the latest Compendium of Animal Rabies Vaccines and Recommendations for Immunization, published by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, or as otherwise required by the terms of this article or of the appropriate departments of the State of New Jersey.
B. 
Vaccination certificate. A certificate of vaccination shall be issued to the owner of each vaccinated cat, on a form recommended by the State of New Jersey. It shall be the duty of every veterinarian, at the time of vaccinating the cat, to provide a copy of the rabies vaccination certificate as set forth herein.
Licenses must be procured for all cats over the age of six months. Application for such license shall be made to the Municipal Clerk, and the following information, including presentation of a valid rabies certificate showing that the cat has been immunized for rabies, shall be furnished:
A. 
The name and address of the owner or persons possessing such cat.
B. 
Such description of the cat as may be required for the purpose of identification.
C. 
The breed, sex, age, color and markings of the cat.
Each person owning or possessing any cat is obligated to make certain that said cat bears identification, either by collar, tag, harness or other suitable means. The rabies vaccination tag must be attached to and made a part of the identification.
A. 
Cats must have license number displayed. Any person who shall own, keep or harbor a cat of licensing age shall annually apply for and procure from the Clerk of the Borough, or other official designated by the governing body thereof to license cats in the Borough in which he/she resides, a license and official registration tag with license number or a registration sleeve for each cat so owned, kept or harbored and shall place upon such cat a cellar or other device with the license number securely fastened thereto or displayed thereon. Acceptable methods of displaying the license number shall include but are not limited to breakaway or elastic cellars. License tags or sleeves are not transferable.
B. 
Time for applying for license. The owner of any newly acquired cat of licensing age or of any cat which attains licensing age shall make application for a license tag or sleeve for such cat within 10 days after such acquisition or age attainment. This requirement will not apply to a nonresident keeping a cat within the Borough of Clementon for no longer than 90 days.
C. 
Cats brought into jurisdiction.
(1) 
Any person who shall bring or cause to be brought into this Borough any cat licensed in another state for the current year and bearing a registration tag or sleeve and who shall keep the same or permit the same to be kept within the Borough for a period of more than 90 days shall immediately apply for a license and registration tag or sleeve for such cat.
(2) 
Any person who shall bring or cause to be brought into this Borough any unlicensed cat and who shall keep the same or permit the same to be kept within the Borough for a period of more than 10 days shall immediately apply for a license and registration tag or sleeve for each such cat.
D. 
License forms and tags. License forms and official tags or sleeves shall be furnished by the municipality and shall be numbered serially and shall bear the year of issuance and the name of the municipality.
E. 
Evidence of inoculation with rabies vaccine or certification of exemption; requirement for license. No municipal clerk or other official designated by the governing body of any municipality to license cats therein shall grant any such license and official registration tag or sleeve for any cat unless the owner thereof provides evidence that the cat to be licensed and registered has been inoculated with an appropriate rabies vaccine.
F. 
License fee schedule. A license shall be issued after payment of a fee of $9.60; provided, however, that the license fee for all spayed female cats and neutered male cats shall be $6.20. It is further provided that the license fee for a cat owned by an individual 65 years of age or older shall be reduced by 50%. Persons who fail to obtain a license as required within the time period specified in this section will be subject to a delinquent fee of $12.
[Amended 12-29-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-16]
G. 
Fees, renewals and expiration date of license.
(1) 
The person applying for the license and registration tag and/or sleeve shall pay the fee fixed or authorized. The fee for the renewal of a license and registration tag or sleeve shall be the same as for the original. All licenses shall expire on the 31st day of December of the calendar year for which issued.
(2) 
Only one license and registration tag or sleeve shall be required in the licensing year for each cat. Any valid New Jersey license tag or sleeve issued by a New Jersey municipality shall be accepted by this Borough as evidence of compliance.
H. 
Loss of license. If a license tag or sleeve has been misplaced or lost, the Borough Clerk shall issue a duplicate license and/or registration sleeve for that particular cat at a fee of $1.
I. 
Proof of licensing. Proof of licensing shall be produced by any person owning, keeping, maintaining or harboring a cat, upon the request of any health official, police officer, animal control officer or other authorized person.
J. 
Interfering with persons performing duties under this article. No person shall hinder, molest or interfere with anyone authorized or empowered to perform any duty under this article.
It is hereby declared unlawful for any owner, keeper or harborer of any female cat to permit such cat to run at large while in heat, whether or not a valid registration tag is attached.
Any cat running at large in violation of the provisions of this article is declared to be a public nuisance. Said cat may be impounded by the appropriate local authorities. An impoundment fee of $10 per day shall be charged against the owner of said cat. Failure to pay the fee shall constitute a separate violation of this article.
No person owning, keeping or harboring any cat shall permit it to soil, defile or commit any nuisance on any place where people congregate or walk or upon any public property whatsoever. This provision shall apply to all privately owned property in the Borough, except the property of the owner or keeper of the cat and the property owned or controlled by persons who have invited or permitted the owner or keeper of a cat to bring such cat upon the premises.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to pay a fine not in excess of $200. Each day or part thereof during which such violation shall continue is hereby deemed and constituted to be a separate offense.