Cat limit ordinance pulled from Warren City Council agenda, but debate continues

Warren City Council did not vote on a proposed ordinance Wednesday night that would have limited the number of cats residents can keep—but that didn’t stop passionate debate from unfolding during the meeting.

The proposal, introduced by 6th Ward Councilwoman Honeya Price, aimed to expand the city’s current animal control ordinance to include cats. A 2003 ordinance already limits the number of dogs a household can keep, and this proposal would have capped cat ownership at four, unless a resident registered as an animal harborer with the Warren City Health Department.

Councilwoman Price said she introduced the measure after hearing complaints and witnessing ongoing issues.

“When they removed 56 cats off of somebody's lawn… I thought it was time that we take charge and try to find a solution,” Price told 21 News.

Under the proposed ordinance, residents with more than four cats would have had to apply for registration, submit details about each animal, undergo an inspection, and pay a $15 annual fee.

While the item was removed from the council agenda ahead of Wednesday’s meeting, the topic still drew public comment—including from Jason Cooke, founder of the Healthy Hearts and Paws Project. Cooke said enforcement of existing laws should be the priority, not new limits.

“While I understand that there are isolated incidents throughout the city where there is an outdoor cat problem… I feel that this is not the way to go about it, and in the long run, it's only going to hurt us,” Cooke said.

He added that he already exceeds the current legal dog limit but is a responsible pet owner who prioritizes animal welfare.

City humane officers agree the problem is growing.

“We’re all over capacity,” said Fabian Pike, Trumbull County’s Chief Humane Officer. “No matter how much we do our job, it seems to get worse.”

In one recent case, humane agents rescued nearly 100 cats from a single Warren home.

Though the ordinance was pulled from the agenda, Price said the conversation is far from over. She’s continuing to review the legislation and may bring it back for consideration in the coming months.

Warren City Council is currently in recess until September.