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    Personal Injury Division

    I got injured by a cat in Nevada. Can I sue the owner?

    Cat bite lawsuits are less frequent than dog bite lawsuits in Nevada. However, they are not unheard of. If you have been injured by a cat or other animal, you may be entitled to damages for:

    In this article, our Las Vegas personal injury attorneys discuss:

    1. How can I recover damages for a cat bite in Nevada?

    Cats are naturally roaming animals and not inherently dangerous. Therefore, you can only recover damages for a cat bite if the owner had reason to know the animal was dangerous or aggressive and failed to restrain it.

    Usually, this will require you to prove that the animal had a history of biting or scratching people. Ways you might prove this include (but are not limited to):

    • A letter or email you wrote to the cat’s owner about a previous attack;
    • Testimony of your neighbors; or
    • Previous complaints to:

    It may also help if you can establish that the owner violated one or more local animal control regulations.

    The statute of limitations in Nevada personal injury cases can be as short as two (2) years, so be sure to consult with an attorney as soon as possible after the cat bite.1

    2. Cat regulations in Clark County

    Title 7 of the Las Vegas Municipal Code sets forth regulations related to animals in the city of Las Vegas. Similar provisions apply in Henderson and North Las Vegas.

    Cat licenses in municipal areas

    Under the cities’ municipal codes, cats are allowed to roam at large unless the cat has an obvious injury or illness. However, if your cat is at least 4 months old, you must obtain (either in person or online):

    Clark County does not require animal licenses for cats within unincorporated areas. However, they must:

    • have a microchip device or current owner identification tag and
    • display a current rabies vaccination tag.

    In incorporated areas, a cat license generally costs $10 for a spayed or neutered cat. (You can obtain a license for a cat that is not spayed or neutered at a cost of $25, but unless you are a breeder, you may be in violation of the law). The license must be renewed yearly.

    Upon licensing your cat, you will receive a numbered license tag which must be securely fastened to a collar worn around the cat’s neck. Failure to tag your cat – or removal of a tag from a cat not belonging to you – is unlawful.

    brown cat with tag on collar lying in road surrounded by leaves - victims of cat bites in Nevada can bring a lawsuit

    Cats must have tags in Nevada.

    License requirements

    To apply for a cat license, you must exhibit a current rabies vaccination certificate (or exemption) issued by a licensed veterinarian. The certificate must also indicate whether the cat is sterilized.

    Failure to spay or neuter your cat is a misdemeanor in Las Vegas. It can be punished by:

    • A fine of $225 for a first offense;
    • A fine of $500 for a second offense; or
    • A fine of $1,000 for a third or subsequent offense.

    The penalty will be reduced by 80%, however, if you submit proof of sterilization of the cat within 30 days after issuance of the citation.

    Kittens born to unsterilized cats in Las Vegas are subject to forfeiture, following which they may be given to a local shelter for adoption.2

    3. Dangerous or vicious cats

    A cat may be declared dangerous by a Las Vegas Animal Regulation Officer if it constitutes a physical threat to human beings or to other animals and:

    1. The cat has substantially injured a person or animal or,
    2. On two separate occasions within eighteen months:
      • The cat has behaved menacingly to a degree that would lead a reasonable person to defend himself against substantial bodily harm; or
      • The cat has bitten someone (even without causing substantial bodily harm).

    However, a cat will not be declared dangerous for constituting a physical threat if it only behaved the way it did because another animal or a human provoked it.

    Meanwhile, a cat may be declared vicious by a Las Vegas Animal Regulation Officer if it constitutes a physical threat to human beings or to other animals and:

    • It has killed or inflicted substantial harm upon a human being or other animal; or
    • After having previously been declared dangerous, it continues to exhibit the same type of behavior which resulted in the declaration.

    It is unlawful knowingly to possess a dangerous or vicious cat, though there are exceptions. A vicious cat may be destroyed by euthanasia (although the owner is first entitled to a hearing).3

    4. Nevada cat bite statistics

    In 2001- 2002 alone, there were 1,334 confirmed cat bites in Nevada. The actual number is probably higher. The average cost of treatment for a cat bite was $970.96.4

    Although cat bites tend not to be as damaging as dog bites, the wounds are often more difficult to disinfect. It is believed that anywhere from 20–80% of cat bites may become infected.

    5. Animal control centers by Nevada locale

    6. Additional Resources

    For more in-depth information about cat bites, refer to the following:

    Legal References

    1. NRS 11.190. See also Wright v. Schum (1989) 105 Nev. 611; Harry v. Smith (1995) 111 Nev. 528.
    2. Title 7 of the Las Vegas Municipal Code. Title 7 of the Henderson Municipal Code. Title 6 of the North Las Vegas Municipal Code.
    3. Same.
    4. A Special Report on Dog and Cat Bite Injuries and Costs in Nevada (1999-2003), May 2005, Bureau of Health Planning and Statistics and the Department of Agriculture.

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