How Many Cats Can You Own in Georgia? 2024 Update

Updated on Jan 22, 2024

mother cat and kittens

Cats can be irresistible, especially if you’re a cat lover and want to take in every stray that crosses your path. While you may want to help every kitty, certain laws apply to how many you can legally own without being looked at as a hoarder and slapped with fines, or worse yet, serving jail time.

If you live in the state of Georgia, you may be wondering how many cats you can legally own. In Georgia, you can own up to five cats without any permit. But what if you have more? If you’re not sure, let’s take a look at the laws within the state.

How Many Cats Can I Legally Own in Georgia?

In the state of Georgia, you can legally own up to five cats without having to obtain a kennel license or permit. If you have six or more cats living in your home, it’s imperative to obtain a permit to do so. Most people overlook the legalities of owning cats, so if you tend to take in every cat you see, know that you must abide by the laws in Georgia.

We should point out, too, that if your cat has more than 1 liter in a 12-month period, you’re required to get a pet dealer’s license.

Other Considerations Before Taking in Multiple Cats

If you care for many cats within the household, it will mean increased expenses for you. Before committing to having multiple cats, here are some things to consider first.

1. Cost of veterinary care

a female veterinarian with cat — Image Credit: Tom Wang, Shutterstock

Let’s face it: veterinary care is expensive, and no walk in the park. Cats (and any other kind of pet) require yearly checkups, and you must be financially stable to care for all of your cats. You never know when an emergency can arise, and you must have the funds to take care of all their health concerns properly.

2. Cat Food Expenses

Good, quality cat food is not cheap, and you should never feed your cats poor quality food for the sake of saving money. In the end, your cats will not be the healthiest, resulting in vet bills, which add up quickly. Look at it as a domino effect; feeding your cats quality nutrition will help keep them at their healthiest.

3. Litter Boxes

british cat inside litter box — Image Credit: Natasha Zakharova, Shutterstock

Litter boxes don’t smell the greatest, and they take up space. If you have multiple cats, you’ll need multiple litter boxes to accommodate all of them. A rule of thumb is to have a litter box for each cat. While not set in stone, it’s a good idea even to have an extra one beyond each cat, and when you add up the necessary amount for 5 cats, it comes to 6; that’s a lot of litter boxes!

Cats can be picky about where they relieve themselves, and you certainly don’t want any of your cats to potty outside the litter box. Not to mention, territorial issues could arise when you have multiple cats, as well. Having multiple litter boxes can be messy, too. With all of this in mind, you need to make sure you have the space to place multiple litter boxes within your home and be prepared to clean up tracked litter.

4. Time

Taking care of multiple cats takes up time. If you’re frequently not home, you should reconsider taking in multiple cats. It would be best if you have the time to devote to each cat for the sake of its mental and physical health. Cats need exercise and stimulation, and if you take in multiple cats but do not attend to their mental and physical needs, you’re not doing them any favors.

Cat toys are a terrific way to bond with your cat and get them engaged with you. This bonding time will make your cat happy and healthy! Remember that buying multiple toys adds to your expenses, but cat toys are usually inexpensive.

5. Consider Spaying/Neutering

cat neutered — Image By: Andrii Medvednikov, Shutterstock

An important aspect of owning multiple cats is to have them spayed or neutered. Not only does it keep possible health problems at bay, but it also contributes to keeping the cat population down. Odds are you have multiple cats because of this problem. Unspayed or unneutered cats tend to roam, and if they do, they are more than likely out there reproducing, which leads to the vicious cycle of an overpopulated cat population.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know how many cats you can legally own in Georgia, we hope that we’ve provided other information to consider before taking in multiple cats. If you’re one of those who cannot resist taking in a stray, ask family members or friends if they can possibly take the cat in. Every cat deserves a good home, and with patience, odds are you can find a home for the homeless kitty. And if you are financially stable and are within the legalities of owning multiple cats, then go for it!

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