What to do if a pet is lost?
Verified 13 February 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)
The steps to be taken vary depending on whether your pet is a cat, a dog or a ferret identified in the Domestic Carnivore File (I-Cad) or an animal belonging to a non-domestic species identified in the National Wildlife Identification File (I-Fap):
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Cat, dog or ferret
There are several possible cases:
The animal is identified by microchip or tattoo
You can report its loss to the National Identification File for Domestic Carnivores (I-Cad).
To make the declaration of loss, you must be in possession of the identification number of your pet.
This number is on the registration card provided by I-Cad following its identification if it was born in your home, or its acquisition.
Your veterinarian can also communicate it to you if necessary.
The declaration of loss informs veterinarians, animal husbandry, animal welfare associations, etc. that you are looking for it.
The declaration of loss is made on the website of the National File I-Cad, in your space Holder.
You must log in with your pet's identification number and password. During your 1re login, you need to create a password.
Report the loss of your pet to the National I-Cad File
If you have just acquired your pet and you are not yet registered as an I-cad holder, you may apply to the I-cad to be registered temporarily as a holder. Contact the I-cad by email indicating your name, surname, postal address and identification number of your pet.
Who shall I contact
Approved body to manage the national identification register for domestic carnivores (dogs, cats and ferrets)
By phone
09 77 40 30 77
Open Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
Call not overtaxed
By courier
Access to contact form
By post
I-DAC
29 rue du progrès
CS 50011
93108 Montreuil Cedex
This temporary registration will allow you to be contacted if your pet is found. It is valid for 2 months until you are registered as a holder.
In addition to the statement to I-Cad, check with veterinarians, shelters or associations pets near you if your pet has not been found.
The function Around me of theFilalapat app, proposed by I-Cad, allows you to easily and quickly identify veterinarians, shelters and pounds as well as animals found around you.
Your town hall can also give you the coordinates of the pickup service and the impound competent for the territory of your municipality.
Who shall I contact
A dog or cat found wandering and impounded is kept for a period of 8 working days.
The 8-day period begins the day after the animal arrives at the impound and includes the day after the 8-day period ends.
The animal is returned to you after payment of the care costs.
At the end of the 8 working days period, if you have not claimed your animal, it is considered abandoned and becomes the property of the manager of the pound.
The pound manager may keep the animal within the pound's capacity.
After consulting a veterinarian, the animal keeper may transfer the animal free of charge to an animal protection association or have it euthanized.
The state services (veterinary inspectors, administrative agents, state veterinarians, municipal police, rangers, customs agents) can return your stray animal without prior impound passage.
In this case, the animal is returned to you after payment of a lump sum fixed by a municipal decree.
Of private websites also offer the opportunity to post research ads and tips for conducting research.
Establish a search perimeter around your home that you will gradually expand by posting posters.
FYI
If your lost pet is a cat, take out its litter outside, its smell is detectable by your cat even several kilometers away.
Once your pet is found, remember to report it to I-cad.
You have just acquired your pet and you are not yet registered as a holder at I-cad
If you have just acquired your pet and you are not yet registered as an I-cad holder, you may apply to the I-cad to be registered temporarily as a holder. Contact the I-cad by email indicating your name, surname, postal address and identification number of your pet.
Who shall I contact
Approved body to manage the national identification register for domestic carnivores (dogs, cats and ferrets)
By phone
09 77 40 30 77
Open Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
Call not overtaxed
By courier
Access to contact form
By post
I-DAC
29 rue du progrès
CS 50011
93108 Montreuil Cedex
This temporary registration will allow you to be contacted if your pet is found. It is valid for 2 months until you are registered as a holder.
In addition to the statement to I-Cad, check with veterinarians, shelters or associations pets near you if your pet has not been found.
The function Around me of theFilalapat app, proposed by I-Cad, allows you to easily and quickly identify veterinarians, shelters and pounds as well as animals found around you.
Your town hall can also give you the coordinates of the pickup service and the impound competent for the territory of your municipality.
Who shall I contact
A dog or cat found wandering and impounded is kept for a period of 8 working days.
The 8-day period begins the day after the animal arrives at the impound and includes the day after the 8-day period ends.
The animal is returned to you after payment of the care costs.
At the end of the 8 working days period, if you have not claimed your animal, it is considered abandoned and becomes the property of the manager of the pound.
The pound manager may keep the animal within the pound's capacity.
After consulting a veterinarian, the animal keeper may transfer the animal free of charge to an animal protection association or have it euthanized.
The state services (veterinary inspectors, administrative agents, state veterinarians, municipal police, rangers, customs agents) can return your stray animal without prior impound passage.
In this case, the animal is returned to you after payment of a lump sum fixed by a municipal decree.
Of private websites also offer the opportunity to post research ads and tips for conducting research.
Establish a search perimeter around your home that you will gradually expand by posting posters.
FYI
If your lost pet is a cat, take out its litter outside, its smell is detectable by your cat even several kilometers away.
Once your pet is found, remember to report it to I-cad.
The animal is not identified
If you have lost your cat, dog or ferret and it is not chipped or tattooed, private websites offer you the opportunity to post search ads and tips to conduct your research.
Check with veterinarians, shelters or associations animal protection near you if your pet has not been found.
Your town hall can also give you the coordinates of the pickup service and the pound competent for the territory of the municipality.
A dog or cat found wandering and impounded is kept for a period of 8 working days.
The 8-day period begins the day after the animal arrives at the impound and includes the day after the 8-day period ends.
The animal is returned to you after payment of the care costs.
At the end of the 8 working days period, if you have not claimed your animal, it is considered abandoned and becomes the property of the manager of the pound.
The pound manager may keep the animal within the pound's capacity.
After consulting a veterinarian, the animal keeper may transfer the animal free of charge to an animal protection association or have it euthanized.
The state services (veterinary inspectors, administrative agents, state veterinarians, municipal police, rangers, customs agents) can return your stray animal without prior impound passage.
In this case, the animal is returned to you after payment of a lump sum fixed by a municipal decree.
Also establish a search perimeter around your home that you will gradually expand by posting posters.
FYI
If your lost pet is a cat, take out its litter outside, its smell is detectable by your cat even several kilometers away.
Reminder
An unidentified animal (unchipped, untattooed) does not legally belong to anyone. It can therefore be adopted by anyone who finds it without you being able to assert a right to recover it. And it is more exposed to the various animal trafficking than an identified animal.
New Pet (Nac)
The procedures differ depending on whether your pet belongs to a non-domestic species protected and is identified in the protected wildlife identification file (I-Fap) or not:
Protected species
To make the declaration of loss, you must be in possession of the identification number of your pet.
This number appears on the registration card provided by I-Fap following its identification if it was born in your home or its acquisition.
The declaration of loss informs veterinarians, animal husbandry, animal welfare associations, etc. that you are looking for it.
The declaration of loss is made on the website of the National File I-Fap, in your space Owner.
In addition to the statement to I-fap, check with veterinarians, shelters or associations animal protection near you if your pet has not been found.
Your town hall can also give you the contact details of the competent pickup service for the territory of the municipality.
Of private websites also offer the opportunity to post research ads and tips for conducting research.
Establish a search perimeter around your home that you will gradually expand by posting posters.
Once your pet is found, remember to report it to I-fap.
Other species
If your pet is not identified, check with veterinarians, shelters or associations animal protection near you if it has not been found.
Your town hall can also give you the contact details of the competent pickup service for the territory of the municipality.
Of private websites also offer the opportunity to post research ads and tips for conducting research.
Establish a search perimeter around your home that you will gradually expand by posting posters.
Reminder
An unidentified animal (unchipped, untattooed) does not legally belong to anyone. It can therefore be adopted by anyone who finds it without you being able to assert a right to recover it. And it is more exposed to the various animal trafficking than an identified animal.
Please note
The process of declaring the loss of the animal can be complemented by other initiatives to increase the chances of finding it.
Suspension of the I-Fap file for protected captive wildlife
The National Identification File for Protected Captive Wildlife (I-Fap) is temporarily suspended. However, the marking of animals remains mandatory and ensures their physical identification. Only the recording of the marking information in the national file is temporarily interrupted.
Animal traceability - Specific provisions for domestic carnivores
Articles L211-24 to L211-26
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