Having a dog or a cat: what are the rules?

Verified 28 April 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Are you planning to buy or adopt a dog or cat or are you going to have kittens or puppies? The rules to know differ if you acquire (free or paid) the animal or if it is a birth (litter of your animal). We present them to you.

You can buy a cat or dog (an adult animal or a puppy or kitten) with a breeder or a salesman.

You can adopt a cat or dog with a association or a animal protection foundation.

You can buy a cat or dog with a particular, only if it is adult animal.

Warning

One particular who owns a breeding female and sells puppies or kittens born to that female is automatically considered a breeder and subject accordingly to the legal obligations applicable to breeders.

In any case, the animal must be identified (chipped or possibly tattooed) before being sold (for sale or adoption).

Reminder

A minor may acquire (for payment or free of charge) a cat or dog only with the consent of his parents or persons exercising theparental authority.

The detention of a categorized dog (of guard and defense, said of 2^e category or attack, said of 1^re category) is subject to special conditions.

A farmer is any person which holds at least 1 breeding female and who sells at least 1 puppy or 1 kitten born to this female.

One dog or cat breeder must be registered in the register Mermaid and dispose of accordingly a Siren number and a Siret number.

However, the breeder who declares his animals in the official herd book of the species and who fulfills the following 3 conditions does not have to be registered to the Sirene directory:

The breeder produces only breed dogs or cats entered in herd books (LOF - Book of French origins - or LOOF- Official book of feline origins)
He declares to the herd books all litters derived from dogs or cats that he holds and each litter has a specific number
He sells a single litter of puppies or kittens per year and per tax household.

Before buying an animal, you can check if a breeder is well registered in the Sirene directory from the following online service:

Company Directory: Find all the information in a company

Always check that the Siret number corresponds to a breeding activity.

In the absence of a Siret number, you can check that the litter number provided by the breeder is valid and does correspond to a declared scope:

Puppy

An online service is available:

Verify LOF Scope Number

Kitten

An online service is available:

Verifying a LOOF Scope Number

A seller is any person who sells (for payment) a pet (dog, cat or other) without holding the breeding female from which he was born.

Since 1^er January 2024, the sale of cats and dogs in the pet store is prohibited.

In partnership with animal protection foundations or associations, pet stores can present for adoption cats and dogs belonging to these foundations or associations. These are cats and dogs that have been abandoned or whose former owners have not been identified.

These presentations are made in the presence of volunteers from foundations or associations.

Animal welfare associations or foundations are not-for-profit organizations, i.e. they do not make a profit.

However, the adoption of an animal from a registered association or foundation is usually accompanied by a financial consideration corresponding in whole or in part to the sums that the association or foundation has committed to support the animal before its adoption.

Any association or foundation is the subject of a declaration to the JOAFE.

You can find the coordinates of an association from the following online service:

Consult the announcements of associations and foundations

An individual can only sell occasionally a cat or a dog.

And he can't just sell a dog or a cat adult without being declared to the Sirene directory.

Reminder

An individual who sells a puppy or kitten whose mother he owns is automatically considered a breeder and is accordingly subject to legal obligations applicable to breeders.

Any offer to transfer (sale or adoption, paid or free) must include the following information:

Scientific and vernacular names of the species, breed and variety to which the animal belongs
Sex of the animal
Place of birth
Number of breeding females in the farm and number of litters of breeding females in the past year
Animal identification number
Age of the animal
Entry or non-entry of the animal in a breeding book (LOOF or LOF), and where applicable: identification number of the female that gave birth to the proposed animal and number of animals in the litter
‘Breed’ if the animal is entered in a breeding book or ‘does not belong to a breed’. In this 2^e In this case, the words ‘appearance’ followed by the name of a breed may be used where the seller can guarantee the morphological appearance of that breed in adulthood.
Siren and Siret numbers of the breeding operation, or if the breeder is not subject to the obligation to declare in the Sirene register, the registration number of the litter in the breeding book to which the proposed animal belongs
Pet price or free donation.

Only breeders and sellers may place ads on the internet to offer cats and dogs for sale (for payment).

One particular cannot place an ad on the internet to sell a dog or cat, young or adult. A private individual can only offer animals free of charge on the internet.

Websites that publish offers to sell pets (cat, dog, other) must publish them in a specific section for pets.

The website that authorizes the distribution of offers to sell dogs, cats and ferrets can only publish an offer to sell after its service has been labeled.

To be labeled, the website must verify that the mandatory information mentioned above is indeed included in the advertisement.

He must also verify the identity of the owner of the animal and the compliance of the mandatory information in the advertisement with the entries recorded in the national identification file of domestic carnivores (Icad).

The advertisement published must include the statement verified ad.

The website must must include the following 2 awareness and information messages :

1^er message : "Do not be complicit in animal trafficking: if you are looking for a dog, cat or ferret, always check that the ad has the words "verified ad", never agree to pay fees not clearly announced in the initial offer.
The identification of dogs and cats and ferrets is mandatory before the sale or donation of the animal. Find out!
When acquiring a dog, cat, ferret, rabbit or equine, you must present your signed certificate of commitment and knowledge.
The acquisition of a non-domestic animal (parrots, snakes, turtles, etc.) may be subject to prior declaration or authorization. Always ask your departmental directorate responsible for the protection of populations or the ministry responsible for ecology in advance.
For more information, please visit the Ministry of Agriculture’s website: https://agriculture.gouv.fr/conseils-et-reglementation-tout-savoir-sur-les-animaux-de-compagnie.”

2^e message “An animal is a sentient being. You are responsible for the health and well-being of your pet for the rest of its life. For more information, please visit the Ministry of Agriculture’s website: https://agriculture.gouv.fr/conseils-et-reglementation-tout-savoir-sur-les-animaux-de-compagnie.”

Offers which do not meet those criteria can be reported to the DGCCRF and to the DDPP.

Failure to comply with these obligations exposes the advertiser to a fine of €750.

Who shall I contact

If you wish to report a difficulty encountered with a merchant
On the internet
You can use the site Conso signal.
The DGCCRF and the merchant concerned will be informed of your approach.
By phone
0809,540,550
Number not overtaxed
Opening hours:
Monday and Tuesday: from 8.30am to 12.30pm and from 1.15pm to 5.15pm
Wednesday: from 1:15 pm to 5:15 pm
Thursday: from 8.30 am to 12.30 pm
Friday: from 8:30 am to 4 pm
By post
DGCCRF - ReplyConso - BP 60 - 34935 Montpellier Cedex 9

Departmental Directorate for Population Protection (DDPP) or Employment, Labor, Solidarity and Population Protection (DDETSPP)

Certificate of commitment and knowledge

You must sign and give to the person who gives you the animal a certificate of commitment and knowledge of the specific needs of the species.

The certificate of commitment and knowledge will be valid only 7 days after the date of its issue, the time to give you a cooling-off period after reading the information contained in the certificate.

At the end of this period only, you will be able to acquire your pet if you believe that you will be able to meet its needs throughout its life.

The owner of the animal you are going to acquire must verify that you have signed this certificate of commitment and knowledge before handing over the animal to you.

It also verifies that this certificate has been issued to you for at least 7 days.

This obligation to sign a certificate of commitment and the 7-day period apply regardless of the method and place of acquisition, whether you purchase it for payment or free of charge, from a breeder, a seller, an animal protection association or an individual.

The certificate of commitment and knowledge must include a handwritten statement by which you expressly agree to respect the needs of the animal.

This certificate specifies the physiological, behavioral and medical needs of the animal.

It recalls the obligations concerning the identification of the animal.

It specifies the financial and logistical implications of meeting the physiological, behavioral and medical needs of the animal throughout its life.

Please note

The certificate of commitment and knowledge must be issued by a person holding the certificate of knowledge for domestic pets (Acaced) or one of its equivalences.

Documents to be delivered at the time of acquisition

When acquiring a cat or dog, the following documents must be given to you:

Certificate of transfer
Veterinary certificate of less than 3 months issued by a veterinarian in the light of the information brought to his knowledge and an examination of the dog or cat
Information document on the characteristics and needs of the animal also containing, if necessary, educational advice, if you have already acquired an animal of the same species and presented your certificate of commitment and knowledge for this previous acquisition.

This obligation applies whether you purchase it for payment or free of charge, from a breeder, a seller (pet shop), an animal protection association or an individual.

The veterinary certificate shall contain the following information:

Identity, address and business name of the transferor if it is a breeder, a seller or an animal protection association
Document justifying the identification of the animal in the national identification file for domestic carnivores (Icad)
If the animal has a European pet passport, passport number
If the animal is sterilized, veterinary certificate of sterilization
If the animal is vaccinated, vaccinations are carried out
In the case of a purebred dog or cat, a copy of the declaration of birth entered in the breeding book (LOF - Book of French Origins - or LOOF- Official Book of Feline Origins)
If it is a dog, date and result of the last behavioral assessment if it was done
If it is a 1st or 2nd category dog, the category to which the dog belongs.

To establish this certificate, the veterinarian examines the apparent state of health of the dog or cat.

It checks the consistency between the morphology and the breed indicated in the animal identification document.

If the seller does not have a copy of the declaration of birth entered in the herd book, the veterinarian shall indicate on the certificate that the dog or cat does not belong to a breed.

The mention of appearance followed by a race name may be registered on the basis of the information given by the assignor.

If the veterinarian cannot establish that the dog does not belong to the 1^re In this category, he mentions that a morphological determination must be carried out when the dog is between 8 and 12 months old.

The veterinarian shall transfer this information to the veterinary certificate.

It may specify the breed of the dog or cat on the basis of the copy of the birth declaration entered in the herd book.

It shall state the date of the examination and shall stamp and sign it.

If the breed is not consistent with that specified on the identification document, the veterinarian shall indicate this on the certificate.

Minimum age of the animal

If you acquire a puppy or kitten, it must be at least 8 weeks old (2 months).

A younger acquired animal is separated from its mother too soon.

They may have health and/or behavioral problems due to early withdrawal.

This minimum age requirement applies regardless of the method and place of purchase, whether you purchase it for payment or free of charge, from a breeder, a seller (pet shop), an animal protection association or an individual.

Identification of the animal

The cat or dog, whether a puppy or a kitten or an adult animal, must must be identified by microchip or tattoo to the National Identification File for Domestic Carnivores (Icad).

A dog or a cat cannot not be surrendered without being identified.

This identification requirement shall apply regardless of the mode and location of acquisition, whether you purchase it for payment or free of charge, from a breeder, a seller, an animal protection association or an individual.

Identification must be made by the owner who cedes the animal, at its expense.

The identification makes it possible to assign to the animal a unique number and to record in the national identification register for domestic carnivores the name and address of its owner.

Identification of your pet allows you to identify yourself and contact you if your pet is found after being lost or stolen. It is also a guarantee of its origin and a means of combating trafficking.

The owner who transfers the animal to you must provide you with a document attesting to the identification at the time of the transfer.

And he must send within 8 days to the National Identification File of Domestic Carnivores (Icad) the document attesting to the change of owner.

You will then receive from Icad an animal identification card in your name.

Please note

If your contact details change (address, telephone number), please inform Icad to remain reachable in case of loss or theft of your pet.

Every animal is a sentient being.

It must be placed in conditions compatible with the biological imperatives of its species.

It is forbidden to abuse a domestic animal.

Attacks on animal welfare shall be punished by a fine and/or imprisonment.

If you witness an act of mistreatment of an animal, you can alert the gendarmerie or the national police by carrying out a confidential and anonymous reporting using the following online service:

Report animal abuse

In the event of an emergency or ongoing events which requires immediate intervention for the survival of the animal, call the police or gendarmerie.

You must ensure that your cat or dog has enough food adapted to its species to keep it in good health. Ask a professional for information.

It is imperative to constantly leave a reserve of clean and fresh water at your pet's disposal.

This water must be renewed as much as necessary and protected from frost in winter.

Bowls for food and water should always be clean.

It is forbidden to lock up a dog or cat in conditions incompatible with its physiological needs, in particular in a room without ventilation or without light or insufficiently heated.

The animal must, in all circumstances, have sufficient space and shelter from the weather.

If the dog is placed in a pen, the pen must be adapted to its size and must never be less than 5 m².

The enclosure must have a shaded area.

The animal's niche, enclosure or place of life must always be kept clean.

The excrement should be removed daily.

The niche or shelter must be watertight, protected from winds and, in summer, from heat.

The niche must be on feet, made of wood or any other insulating material, covered with a litter in winter.

In winter and in bad weather, you must make the necessary arrangements so that your pet does not suffer from humidity and temperature, especially during periods of freezing or excessive heat.

The niche must be sufficiently ventilated.

When the niche is placed on land, your pet must have at least 2 m² of hard and waterproof material or grating to prevent it from trampling in the mud.

This surface must be steep enough for the evacuation of urine and rainwater.

Grating must not injure the animal, especially the extremities of the legs.

If your dog needs to be temporarily tied up or locked up in a pen, it must be able to access a doghouse or shelter at all times to protect it from the weather.

The collar and chain must be proportionate to the size and strength of the animal, not be overweight and not interfere with its movements.

The animal may be attached only by means of a chain sliding on a horizontal cable or fixed to another attachment point so as to prevent the animal from being rolled up and immobilized.

When the animal is attached by means of a chain sliding on a horizontal cable, the height of the cable carrying the chain must allow the animal to move freely and to be able to lie down.

The collar must not be made up of the chain itself, nor of a force or strangler collar.

The length of the chain must be at least 2.50 meters for a sliding chain, 3 meters for a chain attached to another attachment point.

Warning

It is forbidden to tie a dog that is not an adult.

It is forbidden to lock an animal in the trunk of a car without an effective ventilation system, both when stationary and when running.

When an animal remains inside a vehicle in extended parking, you must ensure that the animal has enough air.

In hot or sunny weather, the vehicle should be parked in a shaded area.

FYI

When an animal is locked in a vehicle in direct sunlight, it is possible to intervene without being the subject of a complaint for degradation of property belonging to others provided certain conditions are met.

As the owner of an animal, you are responsible for any damage it may cause whether it is in your care or has lost its way or escaped.

It is forbidden to let your pet wander.

A dog is considered to be wandering if it is in one of the following situations:

He is no longer under the effective supervision of his master
It is out of reach of voice of its master or any sound instrument allowing its recall
It is separated from its owner or the person responsible for it by more than 100 meters

Any abandoned dog, delivered to its own instinct, is in a state of wandering, unless it participated in a hunt and if its owner demonstrates that it has undertaken everything to find and recover it, including after the end of the hunt.

A cat is considered to be wandering if it is in one of the following situations:

It is unidentified and is more than 200 meters from the houses
He is more than 1,000 meters from his master's home and is not under his supervision
Its owner is not known and the cat is seized on the public highway or on the property of others

Stray cats have a shortened life expectancy and are the source of many litters of abandoned kittens, which is why it is recommended to sterilize your cat as soon as possible.

Letting a dog wander can be punished by a fine of €150.

In addition, the court may decide to entrust the animal definitively to an animal protection foundation or association.

The owner who leaves the droppings of his animal on the public road is liable to a fine of €750 if he's caught in the act.

If you are planning to travel abroad with your pet, you should inquire about the sanitary conditions for entry of a pet in the country concerned.

The identification is mandatory for the dogs over 4 months olds and for cats older than 7 months.

The identification is carried out by a veterinarian or a skilled tattoo artist.

It includes, on the one hand, the marking of the animal by electronic chip (or tattoo) and, on the other hand, the entry in the national identification file of domestic carnivores (Icad).

Identification allows the animal to be assigned a unique number and to register your name and address in the National Identification File for Domestic Carnivores (Icad).

Identification of your pet allows you to be identified and to contact you if your pet is found after being lost or stolen.

The veterinarian conducting the identification shall immediately issue you with a provisional certificate of identification.

It shall also inform the national identification register of domestic carnivores (Icad) of this identification within 8 days.

The national identification file for domestic carnivores (Icad) establishes and sends you the definitive identification card of your animal.

If you change your address (or phone number), you must inform the National Identification File for Domestic Carnivores (Icad) to remain reachable in the event of loss or theft of your pet.

Keeping an unidentified dog or cat born after 1^er January 2012 may be punished by a fine of €750.