A Frenchwoman was forced to pay over one thousand euros in damages to her neighbour, after her cat allegedly defecated in his garden.
Dominique Valdès, who lives in Adge, in the Hérault département of southern France, was forced to pay over a thousand euros in damages to her neighbour after several instances of her cat wandering onto his property.
Dominique’s neighbour took her to court after her pet, an orange tomcat named Rémi, repeatedly entered his property, urinating on a duvet, defecating in the garden and leaving paw prints on drying plaster.
The court in Béziers agreed that Dominque should pay her neighbour’s legal fees plus damages, to the tune €1,250 plus €30 for each subsequent time Rémi enters the neighbour’s property.
On her side, Dominque denies the accusations.
“There’s no proof it was Rémi,” she told French daily Le Parisien. “There are other orange cats in the neighbourhood, and the photos the neighbour showed in court also clearly show that several other felines pass through his garden.”
Since the judgement came down in January 2025, Dominique said she has kept Rémi indoors to avoid any repeat offences.
“He’s gained weight, he’s become aggressive… It’s as if he’s been sentenced to house arrest, a real double punishment,” she told Le Parisien.
Nevertheless, Dominique’s neighbour has alleged that Rémi has re-entered his garden, and he has taken her to court again, with the case to be heard in December 2025. This time, if convicted, Dominique would have to pay another €2,000 in damages, with repeat offences costing €150 each.
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What are the rules for outdoor cats in France?
According to the French animal protection society, the SPA, this case might be the first of its kind. In many French suburban and rural areas, it is normal for cats to roam freely outdoors.
“We are not aware of a similar precedent, and if this decision were to set a legal precedent, it could have serious consequences,” Guillaume Sanchez, the head of the SPA, told Le Parisien.
Pet owners are legally responsible for their animal’s well-being as well as ensuring that the animal does not disturb their neighbours.
Technically, French law dictates that if a cat goes 200m beyond their home, then they could be identified as a stray.
Pet owners are also responsible for the actions of their animals. If the pet causes damage or personal injury, then a person can file a complaint against the animal’s owner.
Local authorities can also pass municipal decrees imposing extra rules on residents, such as a requirement to keep animals on a leash.
Similarly, people living in shared apartment buildings can be subject to the rules set by the co-propriété.
READ MORE: PROPERTY: What you need to know about ‘copropriété’ fees in France
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