Can You Bring Cats In Walmart – Pet Policies To Know

Walmart is a multinational retail corporation that offers customers a diverse range of merchandise at everyday low prices. It’s little wonder that Walmart outlets attract such a massive number of customers daily – including pet enthusiasts. But, can you bring cats to Walmart? 

No, you cannot bring cats in Walmart. Walmart has a strict no-pets allowed policy for all their outlets, with the only exception being service animals.

Service animals have the right to public access under Federal law, which company policy can’t override. This article will focus on all aspects of Walmart’s pet policy, and if there’s any chance at all, you can enjoy the Walmart shopping experience with your fur baby. 

Can You Bring A Cat In Walmart

According to the Ask Walmart section on the website, there’s a strict no pet policy at their stores. However, the Walmart Corporation allows the admittance of service animals as per the term’s definition in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

If you’re not aware of how the ADA defines what a service animal is, it means “…a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability.”

Since cats don’t qualify as service animals, they’re not allowed in Walmart, along with pet dogs and other animals. 

Why Aren’t Pets Allowed In Walmart But Service Animals Are

It may seem a little strange that supermarkets prohibit the admittance of pets inside their premises due to health and safety concerns but are okay with the presence of service animals. The truth is service animals are extensively trained to assist their handlers and are used to going out in public spaces while behaving appropriately. 

Not to mention, service animals get their right to public access from the ADA – which is a civil right law and applicable to all private businesses with 15 or more employees. 

So, the truth is, even if Walmart or any other retail giant wanted to deny access to animals in any shape or form – they still couldn’t deny entry to service animals because their protection extends from Federal law. 

There are only a handful of circumstances where businesses are given leave to refuse entry to service animals. These include situations where the service animal is out of control, not housebroken, can’t be controlled by the handler, etc. 

Most private businesses that deal with food items like supermarkets or restaurants are reluctant to allow pets admittance because of the possibility of a health risk. No enterprise wants their customers to fall ill by ingesting something they ate from their premises. 

Another significant factor why some public places don’t allow pets has to do with safety concerns – this includes the safety of customers and the pets themselves. Animal behavior can be unpredictable when they’re brought face-to-face with other species, and this can result in fights, leading to injuries or even death. 

There have been instances where people have managed to take their pets with them at one of Walmart’s outlets, but this has less to do with policy and more to do with luck or the manager’s discretion. Overall, people who visit Walmart with their pets risk being thrown out upon discovery. 

Is Walmart Becoming Pet-friendly Anytime Soon

If you’ve heard a rumor or two that insists Walmart might be going pet-friendly in 2022, pay them no heed. There’s absolutely no news about the company changing its pet policy, nor are there any developments that could point to such a modification. 

Not to mention, a change in Walmart’s pet policy may not amount to much because the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prohibits the entry of any live animal on the premises of a grocery store. This prohibition extends to dogs, cats, birds, small animals, etc. But, as you’ve already guessed by now, service animals are the exception to this FDA rule. 

Are There Any Other Cat-friendly Supermarkets

Cat owners may be disheartened to learn that you’re unlikely to find any supermarket that allows pet entry because the FDA prohibits the presence of animals on the premises of a grocery store, restaurant, or any other food establishment. 

That’s why you’ll notice all the popular retail chains like Target, Walmart, and Costco implement a strict no pets allowed policy. You may spot the presence of a pet an odd time or two, but that’s likelier in outlets in less-populated areas or just plain luck. 

However, the good news is there are plenty of other stores you can take your cat to without running the risk of expulsion. Here’s what a few of them are:

• Petsmart

The massive retail chain that deals with pet products? Yup, that’s the Petsmart we mean. Petsmart allows ‘traditional’ pets on its premises, including cats and dogs. So, while you may not be able to go on your grocery run with your feline, you can always opt to go shopping for cat treats with ole’ Fluffy. 

• Brass Pro

Planning an outdoor trip or a fishing weekend? What if you could take your kitty cat with you to stock up on sports supplies? If you’re interested, swing by the Brass Pro Outlets with your feline all comfy in a pet carrier, and cruise the premises for whatever you need – at your leisure. 

• Petco

Another pet retail corporation that’s only too happy to allow felines on its premises is the Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. What’s better; your cat might enjoy a trip to Petco better than any regular supermarket anyway – think of the number of treats to choose from!

Conclusion

Not many people know that supermarkets often have a no-pet policy because of an FDA prohibition. Plus, the fact that sometimes pet owners are successful at entering and shopping at Walmart also gives credibility to the rumor that the large retail chain allows the admission of cats or other pets. 

However, the truth is, Walmart only allows service animals entry to their outlet premises, and that policy seems unlikely to change any time soon. Till then, we guess we’ll be seeing you and your pet cat cruising the lanes of pet stores.