Essential points
- Identification has been mandatory for all cats born after 1 January 2012.
- It must be completed before the age of 7 months, whether the animal lives indoors or outdoors.
- This process helps reunite you with your cat if it goes missing, simplifies administrative procedures, and allows travel abroad.
Identifying your cat
At what age should a cat be identified?
Kittens must be identified before they reach 7 months of age. The cost is the responsibility of the person transferring the animal.
Santévet tip: failure to identify a cat is now punishable as a 4th-class offense, meaning fines of up to €750.
Contacting I-CAD for private owners and professionals
Cat identification is mandatory, whether the adoption is paid or free, and regardless of whether the cat comes from a professional breeder registered with the official feline studbook, an animal protection association, or a private individual.
It must be carried out by the owner transferring the animal, at their own expense, through the identification company.
What is cat identification for?
How long does it take for the change of ownership to appear on your I-CAD account?
You will receive the final I-CAD identification card for domestic carnivores within one to two weeks after registration.
The identification card for dogs and cats is an official single document that can be accessed and downloaded instantly and free of charge from the National I-CAD File area on its website.
How do you update the microchip address on your cat or dog’s card?
A cat’s identification record is the only official document that links the animal to its owner. To keep it valid, any changes in address, phone number, or other contact details must be updated with I-CAD, the organisation that manages France’s database of domestic carnivores, including dogs, cats, and ferrets.
Why identify your cat?
- It provides protection if the cat is lost or has escaped, making it possible to find your cat with a microchip reader. Your pet is considered a stray if it is more than 200 metres from homes on a public road or on someone else’s property and is not identified. In that situation, the owner must contact I-CAD, which manages the national identification database.
- It helps combat theft and other trafficking in animals.
- Cat identification makes administrative procedures easier.
- It allows cats to stay in campsites, boarding facilities, and similar places. Be sure to bring the document with you.
- It allows you to travel outside France.
The value of the electronic microchip for pets
The transponder is also used in home automation, with cat flaps and connected food bowls. This can be used to schedule access, feeding, and other routines.
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According to service-public.fr, “Your animal’s identification makes it possible to identify and contact you if your pet is found after being lost or stolen. It also guarantees its origin and helps fight trafficking.” |
How much does it cost to identify a cat or dog with a microchip?
Your veterinarian is the only professional authorised to insert an electronic microchip. It is a small cylinder, 4 mm long and 1 mm in diameter, about the size of a grain of rice. The transponder is injected under the skin, or in the case of a dog, under general anaesthesia, at a cost of about 60 to 70 euros.
Identification can be done during the first visit to your veterinarian. In addition to the provisional identification certificate, your vet will also provide the pet’s health record.
Where can you find the number to verify your cat’s identification?
The veterinarian then creates an identification file in the National I-CAD database, which contains all information relating to your pet as well as your contact details.
Identification can be carried out by professionals using two methods:
- the electronic microchip
- tattooing with a dermograph on the inside of the thigh or in the ear flap (a code made up of 3 numbers and 3 letters).
More and more cats are being identified
Identification of kittens (microchip or tattoo) is increasing
I-CAD has noted a clear increase in cat identification, and also in dog identification:
French people’s favourite cat breeds
While no table is displayed here, the point remains clear: identification is becoming more common as awareness grows, especially among new owners who want to secure their pet’s status from the start.
How many cats are allowed per household in France?
French law does not set a limit on the number of cats a household may have. However, it is essential to be able to provide each animal with a healthy and fulfilling life. To help with that, cat insurance from Santévet covers consultations, tests, treatments, and surgery.
For cats born after 2012, identification is mandatory before 7 months of age, by microchip or tattoo. This legal requirement can result in a fine of up to 750 euros.