Conference misery::feline_v1

    Hi Marleen,
    
    I believe the last time I checked the number was 7 for "domestic 
    livestock" (not just cats).  The term "domestic livestock" referes
    to 4 legged animals of a domestic nature, (ie Dogs, Cats, Rabbits,
    etc.)  Things like Goats, horses etc are strictly regulated 
    by zoning laws.  If you go over this amount then you have to 
    apply for a kennel license and have to be in an area zoned 
    accordingly.  This is a the Colorado Springs CITY ORDINANCE.
    This will vary from City to City but in California and Arizona in
    the cities I lived in there, the "domestic livestock" ordinance
    was the same.  This "4 legged" stipulation is important because
    this means that birds are excluded!  I have 30+!  I currently
    am at the limit in my house with 2 rabbits, 4 cats and a 1 dog.
    
    But..... if I added another cat... who would know or have the
    &^(&^ to report me!  Let'um try...  Cats are easy to hide, mine
    hide on their own when a stranger walks in... Let them try to count
    5 cats in my house....  

    The town that I live in has a limit of 2 cats per household.  I
    exceed that number (but I am not saying by how much ;^}).
    
    As to how anyone would find out:
    
    1) If you are a breeder, kitten buyers come to your home to see
    your babies.  They can, will, and have been known to report people
    to the city.  Especially in cases where they don't leave your home
    with a kitten.
    
    2)  Your vet knows how many cats you have.  If you have a very good
    relationship with your vet, no problem.  Good reason to make sure
    that vet bills get paid on time (breeders sometimes pay vet bills
    on account)
    
    3)  Your neighbors often know that you have more than a few cats
    since they see them in the windows, and if your cats are outdoors,
    they see them outside.  Good reason for keeping friendly relations
    with your neighbors.
    
    4)  If you show your cats, your name, address and phone number is
    often printed in the back of the show catalog for spectators.  There
    have been several instances of investigations being spured on by
    this information.  If you have more than 2 cats entered in the show,
    you obviously have more than the allowed 2 cats.
    
    In my area, lots of people have been investigated and lots of catteries
    have been cited for having more than the allowed number of cats.
    Problem is, you can't get a kennel license in my town unless your
    home meets certain criteria.  Mine does not.  If I was to be caught,
    I would be in a world of trouble since I would have to try to place
    my cats, or move.  I am not in the financial position it would require
    to purchase a new home that meets my city's requirments, and I do
    not wish to have to place any of my cats, since they are part of
    my family.
                                                                 
    Jo

    Jo....  I'm sure know one in this file will turn you in...  I'd
    be the first to sign a petition for you to get the domestic livestock
    number increased!!!!
    
    

    Unfortunately, in my town they don't refer to them as domestic
    livestock, the ordinance states that you may not have more than
    two _cats_ and two _dogs_ within the city limits.  Or last house
    was just on the border of town.  This house is within the city limits.
    
    Not to mention the fact that the neighborhood where I live we have
    a home owners association whose rules state that no one may have
    more than two cats and two dogs, and that no type of breeding of
    animals is allowed within the neighborhood.
    
    I don't want to raise any suspicions or eyebrows by starting up
    a petition.  I think keeping a low profile is the best way to get
    around this until we can afford a huge house in the country.  Besides,
    to the untrained eye, all Birmans look alike anyway.  No one really
    knows how many I have!
    
    ;^)
    
    jo

    this kind of thing makes me wonder why this is called a "free country".
    I really can't understand these "laws", unless they are there just
    in case there is a case of chronic abuse (and there is a heck of a
    difference between the responsible breeder and a puppy/kitten mill, but
    unfortunately the news media has made out the former to be the latter).
    I wonder if these laws would stand up if someone with the time and
    money challenged it all the way up the judicial system. I bet that so
    long as there were no complaints about noise, extra traffic, injury, or
    some kind of public nuisance tort, that the law wouldn't stand up.
     
    It has been my observation that most people that have large cat households
    take better care of them than some people do their kids, and I'd just
    love to see the uproar (based on personal privacy/constitutionality)
    if there was a law passed that said that you can't have more than two kids.

    Deb

If questioned or hassled...ask a lawyer.  IF your cats are indoor-ONLY,
they are not a nuisance to the neighbors and there have been cases where
the courts have decided that NOONE can dictate how many indoor-ONLY cats
you can have so long as you do not create a nuisance due to filth, etc.

If your cats go outside, then they can be considered a nuisance to the
neighbors and the city, town, or county can dictate what, when, how, and
how many.

I don't remember when exactly, or where, but I know I read an article about
this a year or two ago.

    Thanks for the info... will check into it if ever need be.
    
    On a similar note, I am in charge of publicity for an upcoming show.
    After sending out hundreds of press releases, the local paper in
    my town called to get more information on the show for an article.
    
    The conversation was going very well... until the dreaded question
    came up "just how many cats do YOU have?", my answer... "what kind
    of cats do I have? Oh, well I have Birman cats, also known as the
    Sacred Cat of Burma.... they are quite beautiful and have a very
    mysterious background...you see, they originated in Burma where...."
    
    Only my hairdresser knows for sure...
    
    Jo