Indiana is one of a relatively small number of states that specifically addresses feral cats in its statutes — but if you’re looking for a single, statewide rulebook that tells you exactly what you can and can’t do, you won’t find one. State laws that address feral cats generally define them and enable local governments to adopt their own solutions, which means the rules can vary drastically within the same state.
That patchwork structure matters for anyone in Indiana who feeds, manages, or simply lives near a feral cat colony. What’s permitted in Marion County may be prohibited — or more strictly regulated — in the county next door. Understanding both the state-level framework and your local ordinances is the only way to know where you actually stand.
This guide walks through each layer of Indiana’s feral cat law: how the state classifies these animals, whether TNR is legal, what feeding rules apply, what caretakers must do to stay compliant, and how liability works when things go wrong…