The Protection of Cats and Dogs in EU Law – Companion for Life: From Ownership to Responsibility
Published in 2025
White paper on the protection of cats and dogs in the EU
Document Types: Technical review
Animal category: Felines
Abandoned animals and those who take them in - First study on abandonment and adoption 2025 (Based on 2024 data)
Published in 2025
Nation-wide study in France by the SPA and the Affinity Foundation on the abandonment and adoption of cats and dogs in 2024.
Document Types: Technical review
Assemblée nationale : réponse écrite à la question n°7147 : Quelles mesures pour éviter la prolifération des chats errants ?
Published in 2025
Government answer to a question from a Deputy on the proliferation of stray cats in France. It summarises existing measures and its support for local pilot schemes supported by a one-off €3 million funding pot in 2024, but, for the time being, envisages no further roll-out due to lack of funding.
Document types: Regulation/Certification
Animal categories: Felines
European Parliament: Written answer to Question E-001998/2025: Animals confined in unspeakable conditions in Malta
Published in 2025
Answer from the Commission to a question from an MEP on the discovery in Malta of lions and a panther being kept under unfit conditions, revealing serious breaches of the European regulations on animal welfare. In its answer, the Commission states that Member States must apply the Zoos Directive and the EU Wildlife Trade Regulation, and that it is looking into ways to strengthen its legislation to prevent such abuse.
Document types: Regulation/Certification
Domestic cat management in the UK: learnings from a global perspective
Published in 2025
Review examining the management of feline overpopulation, which requires a holistic and locally specific approach covering domestic cats, cats in shelters and those living in the wild, while taking environmental factors, feline demographic processes and human community dynamics into account.
Document Types: Scientific review
Animal categories: Felines
Exploring human-animal interactions beyond academic research: A rapid review of grey literature
Published in 2025
Scientific overview showing that human-animal interactions are beneficial to the welfare of both humans and animals, in various contexts and for vulnerable populations.
Document Types: Scientific review
Animal categories:Canine, Equine, Feline, Birds (excluding poultry)
Decree of June 19, 2025 laying down the animal health and protection rules to be met by activities involving domestic pets
Published in 2025
This Order repeals that of April 3, 2014. It reinforces animal health and protection rules for pet-related activities, providing a clear and detailed regulatory framework for the activities of shelters, breeding establishments, educators and traders, taking into account the particular needs of each individual species. Health rules must now be instituted by all establishments.
Document types: Regulation/Certification
Animal categories:Canine, Feline, NAC, Birds (excluding poultry), Fish, Rodents
European Parliament: written answer to question E-001682/25: Turkish law that allows the killing of roaming dogs and cats
Published in 2025
In response to concerns about the mass slaughter of stray dogs in Turkey, the Commission points out that animal welfare is not regulated at EU level for third countries. However, it supports the actions of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE),of which Turkey is a member, to promote international standards on the ethical management of dog populations.
Document types: Regulation/Certification
European Parliament: written answer to question E-001104/25: Management of stray animals in the EU
Published in 2025
European Commission answer to a question from a Member of the European Parliament on the measures it envisages for the management of stray animals in the Member States. No common legislative framework is planned for stray animals other than those kept in shelters, but funding is being put in place via the WHOA regional platform to facilitate the application of international standards.
Document types: Regulation/Certification
Agriculture Committee votes on first EU rules on welfare of dogs and cats
Published in 2025
Press release announcing the adoption by the European Parliament of groundbreaking rules on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats, including compulsory electronic identification and a ban on breeding establishments for animals with extreme characteristics.
Document types: Regulation/Certification
