California Code, Food and Agricultural Code (Formerly Agricultural Code) - FAC § 31751.3

(a)(1) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), no public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group shall sell or give away to a new owner any cat that has not been spayed or neutered.

(2) For the purposes of this section, a “rescue group” is a for-profit or not-for-profit entity, or a collaboration of individuals with at least one of its purposes being the sale or placement of cats that have been removed from a public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, or humane shelter or that have been previously owned by any person other than the original breeder of that cat.

(b)(1) If a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state certifies that a cat is too sick or injured to be spayed or neutered, or that it would otherwise be detrimental to the health of the cat to be spayed or neutered, the adopter or purchaser shall pay the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group a deposit of not less than forty dollars ($40), and not more than seventy-five dollars ($75).

(2) The entity shall establish the amount of the deposit at the level it determines is necessary to encourage the spaying or neutering of cats.

(3) The deposit shall be temporary, and shall only be retained until the cat is healthy enough to be spayed or neutered, as certified by a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state.

(4) The cat shall be spayed or neutered within 14 business days of that certification.

(5) The adopter or purchaser shall obtain written proof of spaying or neutering from the veterinarian performing the operation.

(6) If the adopter or purchaser presents proof of spaying or neutering to the entity from which the cat was obtained within 30 business days of obtaining the proof, the adopter or purchaser shall receive a full refund of the deposit.