Oregon has millions of cat lovers. It also has a big feral cat problem. Nobody knows exactly how many feral cats live in the state. But Lane County alone is estimated to have around 40,000 stray and feral cats. That’s a lot.
So what are the rules? Can you feed them? Trap them? What happens if you abandon a cat outside? This guide breaks it all down in plain language.
What Is a Feral Cat?
A feral cat is a domestic cat that has little or no human contact. These cats live outdoors. They act more like wild animals than pets. They’re typically fearful of people and will not come to you willingly.
Feral cats are different from stray cats. A stray cat was once someone’s pet. It got lost or was abandoned. It may still be friendly to humans. Feral cats were usually born outside and never socialized with people.
Oregon law protects both types of cats under its anti-cruelty statutes. You’re not allowed to harm them. Right?
Does Oregon Have a Statewide Feral Cat Law?
Here’s where it gets interesting. Oregon does not have one single statewide law that covers everything about feral cats. Instead, several laws work together. Some apply statewide. Others depend on your county or city.
Most of Oregon’s 36 counties don’t have their own ordinances that apply to cats. This is actually a major reason lawmakers passed a new law in 2025. More on that in a moment.
The Big 2025 Law: House Bill 3604
Okay, this one is important.
In May 2025, Governor Tina Kotek signed House Bill 3604. It passed the Oregon Senate 26 to 1. That’s nearly unanimous. The law created a statewide framework for handling stray and unowned cats.
Before this law, there was almost no guidance for shelters and rescues dealing with stray cats outside of big cities. Many counties had no system at all.
Here’s what HB 3604 actually does. It sets a legal “hold period” for stray cats taken in by shelters and rescue groups. During this time, organizations must try to find the cat’s owner. It also creates standards for which organizations can legally take in, hold, and rehome cats. These groups are called “animal holding agencies.” They must be nonprofit organizations. They must operate out of a physical building open to the public at least five days a week.
The law also protects these organizations from being charged with theft or animal abandonment when they follow the rules.
Pretty significant, right?
Anti-Cruelty Laws That Protect Feral Cats
Here’s something most people don’t realize. Feral cats are protected under Oregon’s anti-cruelty laws even though they are not owned pets.
Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 167.315 through 167.333 covers animal abuse. Under ORS 167.320, animal abuse in the first degree means intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing the cruel death or serious injury of an animal. That’s a Class A misdemeanor in Oregon.
What does Class A misdemeanor mean in practical terms? You could face up to 364 days in jail, a fine of up to $6,250, or both. That’s serious. Think of it like a very serious traffic offense, but with possible jail time attached.
Animal neglect is also illegal. Under ORS 167.325, failing to provide minimum care to an animal in your custody is a Class B misdemeanor. That means up to 6 months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.
Here’s the catch with feral cats and neglect laws. If you are regularly feeding a feral cat colony, you might legally be considered its caregiver. That means the minimum care standards could apply to you. We’ll talk more about that below.
Animal Abandonment Laws
This is the part most people miss.
Under ORS 167.340, it is illegal to abandon a domestic animal. You cannot leave a pet cat outside and walk away. That is considered animal abandonment. Under HB 3604, abandoning a cat without making reasonable care arrangements is a Class B misdemeanor. That can mean up to 6 months in jail and a $2,500 fine.
Many people assume they can just “release” their house cat outside. They find out the hard way that this is a crime in Oregon. Don’t be one of them.
There is a defense written into the law. If you surrender a cat to an animal shelter, veterinary clinic, or another place that can provide care, that is generally not considered abandonment. The key is that you make reasonable arrangements.
Feeding Feral Cats: Is It Legal?
Wondering if feeding feral cats is allowed? The answer is: it depends.
Oregon does not have a statewide law banning the feeding of feral cats. However, some cities and counties have their own rules. In Burns, Oregon, for example, the local ordinance says feeding stray or feral cats may be prohibited if it creates a hazard to public health, safety, or welfare of humans or property.
Some local ordinances also require people who feed feral cats to cooperate with trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs. If you feed them, you may have some responsibility for them.
Under Oregon’s minimum care standard, animal caregivers must provide food, water, shelter, a clean environment, and proper veterinary care. If you are regularly feeding a feral cat colony, you could be seen as a caregiver. That means you may be expected to meet those minimum standards. This part can be tricky, honestly.
Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Programs
Stay with me here, because this section is really useful.
Trap-Neuter-Return, or TNR, is the most common approach to managing feral cat colonies in Oregon. It works exactly like it sounds. You humanely trap the cats. A vet spays or neuters them and vaccinates them. Then you return them to where they came from.
Oregon does not have a single statewide law requiring TNR. But TNR programs are widely supported across the state. The Oregon Humane Society runs TNR programs. So does the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon (FCCO), a nonprofit based in Portland.
The FCCO has spayed and neutered over 86,000 stray and feral cats since it started in 1995. Their services are donation-based. Cats must be unowned, living outdoors, and brought in a humane live trap.
Multnomah County Animal Services actively encourages TNR. They actually advise people to leave healthy outdoor cats where they found them rather than bringing them to the shelter. Healthy cats do better in their familiar environment.
One important visual cue: if you see a cat with the tip of one ear removed (called an “ear tip”), that cat has already been spayed or neutered and vaccinated through a TNR program. Leave them be.
Trapping and Relocating Feral Cats
Hold on, this part is important.
Trapping and TNR are not the same thing as trapping and relocating. Oregon law treats these very differently.
In Eugene, relocating trapped cats is explicitly illegal. In Washington County, trapping nuisance cats that have trespassed on your property is permitted under certain conditions. But any trapped cats must be taken to a shelter. You cannot just drop them in another neighborhood.
Relocating feral cats is also considered cruel by most animal welfare experts. Cats are territorial. Moving them to an unfamiliar area causes extreme stress. Their survival rate drops significantly.
If you are dealing with feral cats on your property, the better legal and humane approach is to contact a local TNR organization. That is a much better path than trapping and moving them yourself.
What Happens If You Find a Stray Cat?
This confuses a lot of people. You’re not alone in wondering.
If you take in a stray cat and start caring for it, the law sees you as a potential owner. In Lane County, for example, a cat is considered legally owned after the finder has cared for it for six weeks.
If you find a stray cat and want to legally keep or rehome it, Oregon state law under ORS 98.005 requires you to make reasonable efforts to find the original owner. You should have the cat scanned for a microchip. You can post on neighborhood apps like Nextdoor, use social media, and check with local shelters.
Not sure what to do? Contact your county animal services office. Rules do vary by county.
County-by-County Differences
Honestly, this is one of the most confusing parts of Oregon cat law.
Oregon’s 36 counties each have different levels of service and different ordinances. Some counties have no animal services for cats at all. Columbia County Animal Control, for example, cannot accept stray cats at their shelter. They cannot assist with domestic or feral cat issues.
Lane County currently has no cat ordinances at the county level. Multnomah County has more resources and a more developed system.
Before you take action involving feral or stray cats, look up your county’s animal services website. The rules where you live matter a lot.
Penalties and Consequences
Let’s talk about what happens if you break these laws.
Animal abuse in the first degree (ORS 167.320) is a Class A misdemeanor. You could face up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $6,250. Repeat offenses or crimes involving 11 or more animals can be elevated to felony charges.
Animal neglect in the second degree (ORS 167.325) is a Class B misdemeanor. That means up to 6 months in jail and fines up to $2,500. If you have two prior convictions, or if the offense involved 11 or more animals, it can become a Class C felony. A Class C felony carries up to 5 years in prison and up to $125,000 in fines.
Animal abandonment under ORS 167.340 as updated by HB 3604 is a Class B misdemeanor. Up to 6 months in jail and a $2,500 fine.
Less severe than a felony, but still no joke. These charges show up on your record and can affect housing, employment, and more.
How to Help Feral Cats Legally in Oregon
You want to help the cats. Good. Here’s what you can do that is both legal and effective.
Contact a TNR program. The Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon at feralcats.com is a great starting point. They lend traps for free, provide how-to guides, and offer volunteer trapping help on a limited basis. Oregon Humane Society’s Salem campus also offers spay and neuter services for community cats.
If you manage a colony, be consistent. Feed cats at scheduled times. Keep the area clean. This reduces complaints from neighbors.
If you are concerned about a feral cat that appears sick or injured, contact your county animal services department or a local rescue group.
Do not try to handle feral cats without guidance. They can bite and scratch. Bites from unvaccinated animals can carry health risks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to kill a feral cat in Oregon?
No. Feral cats are protected under Oregon’s anti-cruelty statutes. Killing a feral cat could result in animal abuse charges, which is a Class A misdemeanor.
Can I trap a feral cat on my property?
This depends on where you live. In Washington County, trapping nuisance cats on your property is allowed, but you must take them to a shelter. In Eugene, relocation after trapping is illegal. Check your local county rules before trapping.
If I feed a feral cat, am I responsible for it?
Possibly. Oregon’s minimum care standards apply to animals in your “custody or control.” Regular feeding can create a legal duty of care in some circumstances. Talk to your local animal services office if you are unsure.
What should I do with a stray cat I found?
Have it scanned for a microchip, post on social media and apps like Nextdoor, and contact local shelters. If no owner is found, contact a rescue group or animal holding agency for next steps.
What is HB 3604 and how does it affect me?
HB 3604, signed in May 2025, created a statewide framework for handling stray and unowned cats. It sets hold periods for shelters, defines which organizations can legally take in cats, and makes abandoning a cat without arrangements a Class B misdemeanor.
Does Oregon require cats to be licensed or vaccinated?
Oregon does not have a statewide cat licensing or vaccination law. Some individual cities may have local requirements. Check with your city or county.
Final Thoughts
Oregon’s feral cat laws are a mix of statewide statutes and local rules. The 2025 law, HB 3604, was a big step forward. But there is still a lot of local variation.
Here’s the bottom line. Do not harm feral cats. Do not abandon pet cats outside. If you want to help, support or participate in a TNR program. Know your county’s rules.
Stay informed, stay humane, and when in doubt, contact a local animal welfare organization or your county animal services office.
References
- Oregon House Bill 3604 (2025): https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB3604
- Oregon Humane Society Animal Legislation: https://www.oregonhumane.org/get-involved/animal-legislation/current-legislation/
- Oregon Revised Statutes, Chapter 167 (Animal Abuse and Neglect): https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_167.340
- Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon: https://www.feralcats.com
- Multnomah County Animal Services, Outdoor Cat Information: https://www.multcopets.org/outdoor-cat-information
- Lane County Animal Services, Stray Cats: https://www.lanecountyor.gov/government/county_departments/public_works/general_services/animal_services/stray_cats__rules_and_recommendations
- Oregon Misdemeanor Penalties Overview: https://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/resources/oregon-misdemeanor-crimes-class-and-sentences.htm
