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France banned the sale of cats and dogs in pet stores starting January 2024, requiring all purchases to go through breeders or shelters
Source: French Ministry of Agriculture (2021)
Notes
Part of 2021 animal welfare law; includes mandatory certificate of commitment for new pet owners
French Ministry of Agriculture. (2021). Loi contre la maltraitance animale. As cited in Cat Cognition. https://catcognition.com/statistics/acquisition/#fr-pet-store-kitten-ban-2024
40%
40% of French cats are adopted from shelters or associations, 35% are found/given as gifts, and 25% come from breeders or pet shops
FACCO (2024)
€150-200
Average cat adoption fee at French shelters is €150-200, which typically includes sterilization, microchipping, and first vaccinations
Société Protectrice des Animaux (2024)
Since 2021
French municipalities can declare free-roaming cat populations and implement mandatory sterilization programs under the 2021 animal welfare law
French Ministry of Agriculture (2021)
24%
24% of cats are adopted from animal shelters (APPA 2024); breeder purchases vary by source (3% APPA vs 20.1% AVMA)
American Pet Products Association (2024)
