Committee hears testimony on bill to set stray-cat holding rules, provide limited immunity for rescues

House Committee on Judiciary members heard about a proposal to set statewide minimum holding periods and notification requirements for stray cats and to grant limited civil immunity to qualifying animal holding agencies.

Supporters told the committee that current uncertainty about liability prevents rescues and some shelters from taking in stray cats and contributes to the stray and feral-cat population. The introduced version of House Bill 3604 would require an animal holding agency that takes possession of a cat to keep the animal for three business days if it lacks a license, tag, or microchip, or five business days if it has identifying information; to post a photograph and information on the agency’s website within 24 hours; to attempt other reasonable owner-notification steps; and to permit transfer of ownership to the agency if the owner does not redeem the cat within the holding period. The bill would also define “animal holding agency” to include nonprofit rescues and county or…