Every HOA should have clear rules about pets, and that includes cats. What rules your HOA might have, and how to deal with different types of cats. In the US, 29% of households own cats as of 2022, according to Forbes. This is an increase of 4% since 2016. This shows how your HOA and cats will continue to be intertwined.
Your HOA and Indoor Cats
Let’s start with a relatively easy type of cat, the indoor cat. Would cats who only stay inside count to a possible limit on the number of pets per household?
The answer to that will depend on your community’s layout. In an apartment block, you probably should. You might end up with 2 or 3 noisy cats or a cat and a dog that fight, and if that sound carries the neighbors will get annoyed and complain.
If the properties are separate, so don’t share walls, then indoor cats may not count. If they truly only stay inside the board cannot demand to go in and count them. However, if there is a possibility of them being outside, then they should.Â
However, even if they don’t count, owners should still fill in a pet registration form when they join the community. This is an important part of your pet policy, so you can keep track of the pets in your HOA.
To know for sure whether your cats won’t count, you should read your HOA’s CC&Rs. HOAs have considerable power to decide their own rules, so you should read them fully. You should talk to a lawyer if you think the rules are unreasonable.
Your HOA and Outdoor Cats
Some owners allow their cats to go in and out at will. These cats should count within the pet limit, but if they are domesticated shouldn’t cause problems. The only situation that they might cause issues, is if they’re not neutered or spayed. Unneutered male cats can become territorial, and aggressive. Unspayed females can also be territorial, and when they’re in heat males often fight over them, stray or feral cats are more likely to come into the community.
Your pet registration form should ask if their animals are neutered. Cats that aren’t neutered shouldn’t be allowed outside. When they go outside, they should also be wearing a collar. If you have a lot of cats in your HOA, you could encourage the owners to put up posters saying that a cat lives there so that they can show pride in their animal. It also helps you to see who owns a pet.
Your HOA and Stray Cats
If stray cats show up in your community, sometimes residents begin feeding them because they feel sorry for them. This is fine until suddenly there are 10 that show up for the food. The best thing to do is to talk to your local government agency or Alley Cat Allies to get help to humanely trap them.
Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs do work in reducing the feral cat population, so the board can work with them to humanely deal with any feral cats. The Alley Cats Feral Friends Network can also help you and advise on the next steps. Animal shelters also have lots of different articles on what to do with the community cat population, from resolving cat-wildlife conflict to steps for municipal leaders. Using humane traps you can help these cats to have better lives in loving homes.
Your HOA & Rat-Catching Cats
Some communities opt to use cats as rat catchers. This may work, but studies have shown that cats aren’t that good at catching rats. Whereas mice are easy prey, rats are more aggressive and intimidate cats. Rats may be less bold with cats around, but that doesn’t mean they’re gone. But, if it works for your community, then go for it.
Depending on the size of your community, and the number of rats you could try trapping them yourselves, either with actual traps and poison or by planting mint. Rats hate mint, so one way to prevent or get rid of them is to plant mint around the HOA or condo. There are also lots of other DIY methods to exterminate rats. These include mothballs and boric acid mixed with peanut butter.
FAQs on HOA and Cats
Can HOA restrict indoor cats?
They can restrict them, but it is more challenging than cats that go outside.
Can HOAs restrict the number of cats allowed?
Yes, they can restrict the number of pets allowed. You should check an HOA’s rules on pets before moving in.
What to do about people feeding stray cats in HOAs?
If it is a violation, you can notify residents when they consistently feed stray cats. It would be important to explain why it’s not a good idea to feed stray or feral cats.
Can an HOA ban cats outdoors?
This will depend on your state and local laws, you should also read your HOA’s CC&Rs, and you can always talk to an attorney. The HOA will probably have rules around your cat being microchipped when outside.
Can HOAs require you to vaccinate your cats?
Cats being vaccinated, neutered, or spayed may be included in the HOA’s pet policy.
Can HOAs refuse to accept pets?
Yes, HOAs can legally ban pets. The only exception to this is service animals. Emotional support animals are more of a gray area, and I would recommend talking to an attorney.
Wrapping Up Your HOA and Cats
An increasing number of households have pets, and pet owners will be concerned about whether their cats are welcome in an HOA. The board needs to have a clear, and fair pet policy, which should be applied evenly to all pets.
3 Responses
I’m a board member of my condo association. We are going to institute a pet registration form for dogs and cats and were thinking of assessing an annual fee of $25. Is this reasonable to ask for such a fee? Our thinking was to follow the towns rule which does the same.
I look forward to hearing back. Thank you!!
Hi David, thanks for your comment! I’m not sure. I think it would be best to check with a community association manager or an attorney. We host webinars and online CE classes where participants can ask questions to experts in condo association management. Check out our webinar page to find more information: https://vinteum.io/webinars/