[Adopted by Ord. No. BH-01-91 (Ch. BH-XI of the Revised General Ordinances)]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CAT
Any member of the feline species, male or female.
OWNER
Includes the person or persons owning, controlling, keeping or harboring a cat.
RUN AT LARGE
Applies to any cat off and not on the premises of the owner.
STRAY CAT
A cat having no known owner, custodian or identification.
A. 
All cats over the age of six months must receive a rabies inoculation. The owner must retain appropriate documentation from the inoculating veterinarian or rabies clinic indicating that the cat in question has received said inoculation. Such documentation must be made available to any agent or employee of the Township of Freehold charged with the responsibility of controlling or regulating animals upon request by said agent or employee. Any cat which has not been inoculated or is not exempt from inoculation pursuant to the terms of this article is subject to confiscation by agents and employees of the Township of Freehold. Any cat confiscated shall be impounded and can only be reclaimed by the owner after the owner renders payment of all fees attendant upon the confiscation and impoundment of said animal together with payment for the inoculation required by this article.
B. 
The inoculation required by this article shall be performed by a duly licensed veterinarian of the State of New Jersey, or by such other persons as may be permitted to inoculate animals pursuant to the laws of the State of New Jersey. The vaccination used must be of the type approved by the United States government agency responsible for licensing manufacturers of veterinary biologicals. Each cat shall be inoculated against rabies annually unless the veterinarian's certificate required by this article indicates a longer period of effectiveness for the inoculation.
C. 
Exemptions to the rabies inoculation requirement:
(1) 
A cat which has not attained the age of six months;
(2) 
Any cat which the Department of Health, upon presentation of a veterinarian's certificate stating that, because of an infirmity or other physical condition or regimen of therapy, the inoculation of such cat shall be deemed inadvisable; or
(3) 
Cats in veterinary hospitals, kennels, pet shops, pounds or shelters, cats in transit or cats brought into the Township temporarily for the sole purpose of showing in cat shows or exhibitions.
A. 
Any cat seized and impounded pursuant to the provisions of this article will be retained at the animal pound for seven days from the date of seizure. If, after the seven-day period specified in this article, the animal is unclaimed, the Animal Control Officer or any person designated by him may cause the cat so impounded to be destroyed or disposed of in the manner provided for by the New Jersey Animal Control Act, Title 8, Chapter 23, Subchapter 23, Rules and Regulations Governing the Sanitary Conduct and Operation of Kennels, Pet Shops, Shelters and Pounds.
B. 
The owner or any person having lawful rights to any impounded cat shall be entitled to redeem said cat upon furnishing satisfactory evidence of such ownership to the Animal Control Officer. Any cat so redeemed must receive a rabies inoculation, or, in the alternative, the person claiming the animal must submit proof that the animal has received a rabies inoculation.
C. 
Any person redeeming any cat seized pursuant to the terms of this article shall pay a redemption fee of $25 to the Township of Freehold and shall be responsible for all charges levied by the pound.