Acton:  No animal is allowed to go at large to the injury or nuisance of others.

Belmont:  Cats, four months or older must have a town license.  They are required to wear a license tag at all times.  Cats six months or older must show proof of spay or neuter, a statement signed by a veterinarian stating a reason why spaying or neutering has been delayed, or a statement signed by the owner stating that the owner had decided not to spay or neuter the cat.  Additionally no “person shall own or keep in the Town any dog, cat or other household pets which by biting, barking, howling, scratching or crying, or in any other manner, disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood, destroys private property or endangers the safety of any person.”

No person can feed homeless dogs or cats, unless it is “done in a sheltered place inaccessible to wild or roaming animals with the express purpose of befriending the dog or cat in order later to have it vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and ultimately adopted.”

Braintree:  Animals trespassing on public or private property is a nuisance, and owners must prevent animals from becoming a nuisance.  

Lawrence:  Owners may not allow their animal to become a public nuisance.  The animal control officer will confine all unrestrained dogs and cats, or nuisance animals.

Quincy:  An animal is allowed off their owner’s property only when they are “under the control of the owner or keeper by leash, cord, chain, rope or other device that allows the owner or keeper to control the movement and/or action of the animal.” 

Southwick: Cats found running at large will be apprehended by the animal control.  Cats may not be a nuisance on any public property, or private property of another.

Springfield:  “Any animal found at large or determined to be a public nuisance by a police officer, wildlife or animal control officer shall be taken by the police, animal control officer or wildlife control officer and impounded and confined in a humane manner.”

Westfield:  Owners may not allow their cat to run at large on any street, public place, or private property unless the owner of the property grants permission.

Belmont - requires all cats to be licensed. The law does not specify that the cat must wear a tag. Requires proof of spay/neuter or person is required to obtain a breeder's license for an additional $25. No person shall own any animal (includes cats) which is biting, barking, howling, scratching or crying, or in any other manner, disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood, destroys private property or endangers the safety of any person.

Chatham - requires cats to be licensed. The owner is required to specify on the licensing form whether the cat is an indoor or outdoor cat. The owner/keeper of the cat must copy of the cat license in a readily accessible place. A cat that is allowed outdoors is required to wear around its neck a safety collar to which is securely attached the tag issued for that animal. An indoor cat is not required to wear a collar/tag.

Oxford - requires cats to be licensed. All cats must wear their tag on a collar, and loose cats may be impounded.

Sandwich - requires cats to be licensed. Sandwich does not require cats to wear a tag.

Watertown - requires that cats be licensed. The law does not specify that the cat must wear a tag.

Freetown - cats must be licensed. The town also has a provision for cattery licenses. Any cats found running at large may be impounded by the dog officer in the town pound and confined for 10 days before being disposed of in a humane manner. Requires the dog officers to make every possible effort to identify the owners of such cats or other animals that are impounded.

Blackstone - no person shall feed feral cats, unless the person is feeding them with the express purpose of adopting the cats within 30 days. The bylaw also sets forth a procedure for animal control to trap feral cats. All cat owners are required to keep a collar or harness on all cats.

Braintree - has an ordinance regarding feral cat feeding stations, the licensing of these stations, and provisions caretakers are required to follow.

Yarmouth - requires cats to wear its rabies tag, but does not require them to be licensed.

Westborough - all owned cats, while out of doors and not in a cage shall wear some form of identification.

Blackstone - all cat owners are required to keep a collar or harness on all cats.

Dennis - limits a person from keeping more than six cats over the age of six months.

Fairhaven - any person that keeps five or more cats is required to get a permit and be subject to inspections. States that a litter of kittens may be kept for a period not to exceed six weeks.

Holliston - requires cats (as well as other pets) that defecate on any land, public or private, without permission, to be removed by person in charge of the animal.

Manchester-by-the-Sea - allows the Animal Control Offer to order a cat restrained pending a hearing if the ACO determines the cat's behavior endangered the health or safety of any citizen or other animals.

Nantucket - requires cat owners to pick up feces in certain areas.

Pelham - requires anyone who keeps more than five cats over the age of six months to obtain a cat license from the town clerk for $5. The ACO is permitted, with 24 hours notice, to inspect all cats and premises where cats are kept with this license.

Wellesley - does not have a licensing or identification provision, but is a cat is determined to be "miscreant" (as defined in the ordinance - has assaulted a person, is a nuisance, etc.) then it shall be ordered to be restrained.

Natick - has a provision that states "No person shall allow a pet, other than a cat, to run at large anywhere in the Town, except on the property of the owner of the pet or with permission of the owner or occupant of the property."

Paxton - defines cat kennel as "any building, lot, structure, enclosure or premises or portion thereof where more than four cats are kept or maintained for any purpose."

Wayland - specifically states that there are no cat ordinances because the town does not have the facilities. States that cats will be turned over to the dog officer only when there is a need to impound the cat due to a biting episode or for investigation of a contagious or infections disease.