Not sure about Cali, but recyclers are paying top dollar for cats right now.
Do not throw them out.
Find a recyclers idk about bike cats but oem car cats are like 100-900 per cat right now ( after market cats get you like $10) most cats are closer to the 100 end, the expensive ones are off hybrids ect
I do not live in Cali but have never been asked for records on a cat ever, and I've turned in like 6 at once. This is a problem imo as cat theft is really bad. (All mine are legit I just didn't bother turning them in when metal prices were low, back in 2016 a subie cat was paid $25 in 2019 I got $150)
If Cali makes it hard bring em to a race and give em to someone out of state. (Hopefully for a cut lol)