Bearcat I know you were looking for a clear law on this, but you won’t find it (in MN at least). ‘Feral’ is not defined and is only used in MN Statute for “Feral Swine” which is further defined as “species Sus scrofa” (Wild Boar). That is a specific breed, not a designation of its ‘wildness’. When it comes down to it, an owned animal such as a horse, cow, chimpanze, or cat may be “distrained”, or in otherwords captured per MN statute. Notice I didn’t list ‘dog’ which has the very special designation that you are allowed to kill them if they are committing certain damages (MN Stat 347.17).
If that cat doesn’t have an owner it would fall under ‘unprotected wild animals’definition per MN statutes chapter 97.
This brings up an interesting question though, how can anyone be sure the cat doesn’t have an owner? Is lack if knowledge of an owner sufficient? I’m not a lawyer, but I would think there is a ‘reasonableness’ standard that could be applied.
In otherwords, if you’re sure it doesn’t have an owner, you can legally ‘take’ the ‘unprotected’ ‘wild animal’.
