A few weeks back we welcomed a new member to the LauraLaw family, Forrest! Laura and her son adopted this rambunctious little kitty and although he hasn’t been to the office due to Maddy’s allergies, he has certainly brightened up Laura’s home life (or made it more stressful – the jury is still out!). While mommy is at work, Michael takes care of Forrest during the day, making sure he doesn’t destroy Laura’s house! Luckily, at 2.5 lbs the little monster can only do so much damage.
Despite keeping Laura up late at night by running around like a lunatic, Forrest really is a great kitty and we love having him as part of the family!
Our new feline friend inspired us to follow up our recent dangerous dogs post with a post about laws regarding dangerous cats. In Cook County, you are required to follow a certain process if your cat hurts someone, much like the process for dogs.
First of all, regardless of vaccination status, Chicago law mandates that your cat be taken to the vet within 24 hours for a 10-day rabies observation. After examining your pet, the veterinarian will send a fax regarding their findings to Animal Care and Control.
Additionally, it is considered unlawful for the owner to sell or give away their cat after being notified that it has attacked someone. It is also unlawful to remove the cat from the limits of the jurisdiction following notification and pending investigation.
Following the attack – whether reported to police by the victim or the hospital they visited – the police will send the report to Animal Care and Control. An officer from Animal Care and Control may then visit the cat’s home to inquire about the circumstances of the attack and inform the owner of their responsibility to cover all damages caused.
It is also necessary for your cat to be vaccinated for rabies. If an unvaccinated cat is exposed to a rabid animal it should either be (a) euthanized immediately, or (b) administered a rabies vaccine and placed in strict isolation for 6 months. This is to ensure that the animal is healthy, seeing as there are no rabies medicines available for post-exposure prophylaxis for an unvaccinated animal. If the cat in question is overdue for a rabies booster it should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and treated appropriately. If a cat that is current with its rabies vaccines is exposed, it should be revaccinated immediately and closely observed by the owner for 45 days.
While this is the protocol for domesticated cats, Illinois is one of only 13 states to also have laws specifically regarding feral cats. The Animal Control Act (510 ILCS 5/) defines a feral cat as a “cat that (i) is born in the wild or is offspring of an owned or feral cat and is not socialized, (ii) is a formerly owned cat that has been abandoned and is no longer socialized, or (iii) lives on a farm.” The act also states that a feral cat’s caretaker, when participating in a trap, spay/neuter, return or release program, does not qualify as an owner. Therefore, according to (510 ILCS 5/35), these caretakers of feral cats will not be held liable for any damages caused by the cat(s) they care for. Additionally, a municipality which allows feral cat colonies and trap, sterilization, return programs (to control overpopulation) is immune from liability for damages caused by a feral cat or cats, as is any veterinarian who sterilizes feral cats.
Although there are few laws in Illinois regarding cats, they are important to know for any domestic cat owner or feral cat caretaker. If your cat were to harm a person or animal or expose a person or animal to rabies, it is important to understand the necessary procedures and your own liability for the cost of damages. Luckily, our buddy Forrest is domesticated, vaccinated and hardly a danger to anyone!
We hope you have a wonderful weekend, and if you have any legal concerns (whether cat related or not!) please do not hesitate to contact LauraLaw.
