How do you become a cat breeder: licensing and registration

Last updated 2026-07-25

How do you become a cat breeder, step by step?

Becoming a cat breeder isn't one certification, it's a stack of separate registrations that layer on top of each other depending on how many cats you keep and where you sell them. Most people who ask this question actually mean one of three things: how do I register my cattery name, how do I get "papers" for kittens I'm selling, or what license do I legally need to breed and sell cats without a state or county coming after me. Here's the honest sequence. First, pick a breed registry and register your cattery name (CFA, TICA, or a breed-specific club). Second, check your state's pet breeder or "commercial breeder" statute, because many states regulate anyone selling above a set number of animals or litters per year, cats included in some states, dogs-only in others. Third, check county zoning and any local kennel or animal-fancier ordinance, since keeping intact breeding cats sometimes trips zoning rules written for kennels generally. Fourth, if you ever sell cats wholesale (to a pet store or broker) or sight-unseen to a buyer who never meets the cat or the cattery in person, look hard at USDA licensing under the Animal Welfare Act's dealer definition at 7 U.S.C. 2132 ^[1]. There is no federal registry for hobby cat breeders. The Animal Welfare Act's licensing scheme, as codified in 9 CFR Part 2, is written broadly enough to cover dog and cat dealers meeting its definitions, but in practice its enforcement and most state breeder statutes are dog-heavy. That doesn't mean cat breeders are exempt, it means the paper trail is thinner and you have to read the actual definitions yourself rather than assume the rules don't apply.

Do you need a license to become a cat breeder?

It depends entirely on your state and county, and on how you sell. Some states have zero cat-specific breeder licensing and only regulate through general animal cruelty or nuisance codes. Others fold cats into the same "commercial breeder" or "pet dealer" statute that covers dogs. Ohio, for example, licenses "high volume breeders" under its high-volume breeder law, but the threshold and definitions in Ohio Revised Code Chapter 956 are written around dogs specifically ^[2]. Pennsylvania's Dog Law similarly targets dog kennels, not cats ^[3]. This pattern repeats in a lot of states: the breeder-licensing statute on the books was written after dog-breeding scandals and simply doesn't reach cat breeders at all. Where cats do get swept in is usually at the county or municipal level, through pet limit ordinances (how many intact animals you can keep per household) and business licensing (if you're operating a cattery as a business, you may need a general business license regardless of species). Always call your county zoning office and ask directly: "does your kennel or animal-breeding ordinance include cats, or dogs only?" Get the answer in writing if you can, because verbal answers from a front-desk clerk aren't something you can point to later. If you're also boarding or running daycare alongside breeding, that's a separate track entirely, covered in our guide to dog boarding licensing, which has more developed state frameworks than cat breeding does.

What is the USDA threshold for cat breeders?

The USDA Animal Welfare Act requires a license from anyone who is a "dealer" as defined in the Act, and 9 CFR 2.1 sets out a retail pet store exemption that covers most small breeders who sell cats face-to-face. If you sell kittens only in person, at your home or your buyer's home, where the buyer can see the animal and the premises before buying, you generally fall under the retail pet store exemption and don't need a USDA license, regardless of how many litters you produce ^[1]. The exemption breaks down the moment you sell sight-unseen: shipping a kitten to a buyer who never sees it in person, selling to a broker, selling wholesale to a pet store, or selling through a website without an in-person handoff. The regulatory definition of "retail pet store" at 9 CFR 1.1 specifically excludes any place selling animals to the public in a manner where the buyer does not personally observe the animal prior to purchase, which is why sight-unseen sellers fall back under dealer licensing requirements ^[1]. There's also a small-scale breeder exemption in the regulations tied to the number of breeding females kept, historically referenced around four or fewer breeding females for certain exemption categories, but this language has shifted with rulemaking over the years and the exact number matters less than the sight-unseen sales test. If you're shipping kittens across state lines without in-person viewing, call your local USDA APHIS Animal Care office before you make your first sale, not after ^[1].

How do you register a cattery and get your breeding cats registered?

Cattery registration is separate from any government license, it's done through a cat fancy organization. The two biggest US registries are the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) and The International Cat Association (TICA), and each has its own cattery name registration process, fee, and renewal cycle. CFA cattery name registration involves submitting a name application (they check it against existing registered names to avoid duplicates), paying a registration fee, and renewing periodically. TICA runs a similar process. Both organizations also register individual cats and litters, which is what actually produces the "papers" buyers expect: a pedigree document showing lineage, breed standard compliance, and litter registration tying kittens to their registered parents. To register a litter, you typically need both parent cats already registered with the same organization, then you submit the litter application with sire and dam registration numbers, birth date, and colors/markings of each kitten. The registry issues individual kitten registration certificates or a litter certificate you can use to register each kitten separately later. Check current fee schedules directly on the CFA and TICA sites since these change and vary by membership status.

How do you get papers for a cat (or for your kittens)?

"Papers" means registration documents from a recognized cat registry, most commonly CFA or TICA, proving the cat's pedigree and, for purebred cats, its lineage back several generations. You cannot get papers for a cat retroactively unless its parents were already registered; papers come from the breeding program, not from an inspection of the cat itself. If you're a breeder trying to get papers for kittens you produced: your breeding pair needs to already be registered with the same organization, you register the litter after birth (usually with a deadline, commonly within a matter of months of the birth date, check current CFA/TICA rules), then you register or transfer registration of each kitten individually, often at time of sale. If you're a buyer asking how to get papers for a cat you already own that didn't come with them: in most cases you can't, unless the breeder registered the litter and simply didn't transfer papers to you yet, in which case you contact the breeder directly and ask them to complete a registration transfer. A cat with unknown or unregistered parentage cannot retroactively get "papers" no matter how purebred it looks, because pedigree registries require documented lineage, not a visual assessment. This question comes up constantly from dog owners too, and the answer is structurally the same: registries like AKC issue papers based on registered parentage, not appearance, which is why a purebred-looking dog with no litter registration can't get AKC papers after the fact either.

How is registering a cat different from getting a dog license?

These are two completely different systems and mixing them up is the single most common confusion in this space. A dog license is a government requirement, usually issued by your city or county, that has nothing to do with breed or pedigree, it's a rabies-vaccination and identification system for public safety and animal control funding. Cat licensing by contrast is rare. Most counties don't require a cat license at all, though a handful of cities do, and county rules vary quite a bit. Always check your specific city or county animal services page rather than assuming cats are treated the same as dogs. To get a dog license, you typically need proof of current rabies vaccination, your dog's basic info (breed, color, sex, whether spayed/neutered, since altered animals often get a discounted fee), and a small annual fee paid to your county or city animal control or treasurer's office. Fees commonly run somewhere in the range of $10 to $20 annually for altered dogs and higher, sometimes $30 to $60, for unaltered dogs in jurisdictions that use licensing fees to discourage unwanted breeding. Exact numbers are set locally, so check your county's specific animal control fee schedule rather than relying on a national average. None of this is the same as breed registry papers. A dog license proves your dog is vaccinated and accounted for by animal control. AKC or CFA papers prove pedigree. You can have one without the other, and plenty of well-loved pets have a license and no papers at all.

How to become a dog breeder (and how it compares to becoming a cat breeder)

The dog breeding path runs parallel to the cat path but with more developed state law behind it, because dog breeding scandals (puppy mills) drove a wave of state legislation that cat breeding never triggered at the same scale. To become a dog breeder: register with AKC or another registry if you want papers, check your state's commercial breeder or kennel licensing statute (many states set a threshold, commonly triggered somewhere between 3 and 25+ intact females or a set number of litters sold per year, this varies enormously by state so check your specific state department of agriculture page), check county zoning for kennel definitions and setback requirements, and evaluate USDA licensing using the same retail pet store exemption logic described above ^[1]. State thresholds vary widely. As one example, Indiana's Commercial Dog Breeders law requires state certification for anyone who has more than a specified number of intact female dogs used for breeding, administered through the Indiana State Board of Animal Health under Indiana Code 15-21-1 ^[4]. Other states set different numeric triggers entirely, so never assume your state's threshold matches a neighbor's. For a full breakdown of dog-specific breeder rules, state thresholds, and USDA registration steps, our dog kennels guide and doggy day care resources cover the licensing side for combined boarding-and-breeding operations, which is increasingly common as small breeders add boarding revenue.

How much does dog boarding cost (and why breeders ask)

Breeders ask this because a lot of small catteries and kennels diversify into boarding or daycare to smooth out income between litters, and the cost structure matters if you're weighing whether to add that revenue line. Nationally, dog boarding commonly runs somewhere between $25 and $85 per night for a standard kennel or home-boarding stay, with luxury "pet hotel" suites running higher, sometimes $50 to $120+ a night in major metro markets. These are market rates, not government-set fees, and they vary heavily by region, service level, and whether it's overnight boarding versus daytime daycare. Daycare (daytime only, no overnight stay) commonly runs $20 to $40 a day in most US markets, again varying by region and whether it includes group play, one-on-one attention, or add-ons like grooming. There's no federal or state agency that sets these prices, they're set by the operator based on local market rates, overhead, and staffing costs. If you're considering adding boarding to a breeding operation, check our pet boarding and dog hotels near me guides for how licensing requirements differ between boarding, daycare, and breeding, since a single facility offering all three sometimes needs separate permits for each activity under the same roof.

What zoning and facility rules apply to a home cattery or kennel?

Zoning is usually the first wall breeders hit, before any state licensing question comes up at all. Most residential zones allow a small number of pets as a matter of right, but cross into "kennel" or "commercial animal facility" territory (often triggered by a specific number of intact adult animals, or by any sale-for-profit activity) and you may need a conditional use permit, special exception, or rezoning. County definitions of "kennel" vary enormously. Some define it by number of dogs only (cats not counted at all), some by any commercial breeding activity regardless of species, and some by total number of animals over a certain age kept on the property. Call your specific county zoning or planning department and ask for their kennel or animal-breeding ordinance definition in writing, then ask whether it applies to cats, dogs, or both. If a hearing is required, expect the board to ask about noise, odor, setback from property lines, waste disposal, and traffic from customers or buyers visiting the property. Prepare documentation before you apply, not after a rejection. This is exactly the kind of packet our $149 Kennel License & Zoning Packet is built to help you assemble: it doesn't file anything for you or represent you at a hearing, but it organizes the state, county, and facility documentation reviewers typically ask for so you're not scrambling the week before a hearing date.

State cat/dog breeder licensing thresholds: what the data actually shows

Number of intact breeding females	States often set a threshold like "more than X intact females used for breeding"	Your state department of agriculture licensing page
Number of litters/animals sold per year	Some states trigger licensing on sales volume instead of animal count	State statute or ag department FAQ
Retail pet store exemption (federal)	Selling in person, buyer sees animal/premises, no USDA dealer license needed	9 CFR 1.1, retail pet store definition [1]
Sight-unseen sales	Any sale where buyer never sees animal/premises in person may require USDA dealer license	9 CFR 1.1 and 2.1 [1]
County zoning "kennel" definition	Often triggered by number of animals or by any commercial breeding regardless of species	County zoning/planning office	The honest takeaway: don't rely on a number you saw for a different state. Ohio's threshold, Indiana's threshold, and your state's threshold are three different laws with three different numbers, and some states (many, in fact) have no cat-specific breeder statute at all [2] [3] [4].

There's no single federal chart of state breeder thresholds, because each state writes its own definition and dollar figures shift with legislative sessions. What follows is a structural comparison, not a claim about every state's exact numbers, since you need to verify your specific state's current statute before relying on any figure. | Trigger type | What it usually means | Where to check |

Frequently asked questions

How much does dog boarding cost?

Dog boarding typically runs $25 to $85 per night at standard kennels or home-boarding services, with upscale pet hotels charging $50 to $120+ nightly in some metro markets. There's no government-set rate; prices are set by the operator based on local demand, overhead, and service level. Daycare (day only) usually runs $20 to $40 a day. Always get quotes locally since rates vary heavily by region.

How to register a dog?

Registering a dog usually means two separate things: getting a dog license from your city or county (requires proof of rabies vaccination and a small fee, often $10-$60 annually depending on spay/neuter status and jurisdiction) and registering with a breed registry like AKC for pedigree papers, which requires the litter and parents to already be registered. Check your county animal control page for licensing specifics.

How much is dog boarding?

Expect roughly $25 to $85 a night for standard boarding in most US markets, with luxury suites and add-on services pushing costs higher. Exact pricing depends on your city, the facility's amenities, and whether it's overnight boarding or daytime daycare. There's no federal or state price standard for boarding since it's a private service, not a licensed-fee activity.

How do you get a dog papers?

Papers come from a breed registry (AKC, CFA for cats, TICA for cats, etc.) and require the parents to already be registered with that organization. The breeder registers the litter after birth, then registers or transfers each puppy or kitten individually, usually at time of sale. You cannot get papers retroactively for an animal with unregistered or unknown parentage.

How do you register a dog?

Two tracks: local dog licensing (contact your county or city animal control office, bring proof of rabies vaccination, pay the local fee) and breed registry registration (AKC or similar, which requires the litter to have been registered by the breeder from already-registered parents). These are separate systems serving different purposes: public safety tracking versus pedigree documentation.

How to become a dog breeder?

Register your kennel name and litters with AKC or another registry, check your state's commercial breeder licensing statute (thresholds vary by state, often based on number of intact females or litters sold annually), confirm county zoning allows a kennel or breeding operation at your address, and determine if USDA dealer licensing applies based on whether you sell sight-unseen ^[1]. Start with your state department of agriculture's breeder licensing page.

How to get a dog license?

Contact your city or county animal control or treasurer's office, bring current proof of rabies vaccination, and pay the local fee, typically $10 to $20 for spayed/neutered dogs and higher (sometimes $30-$60) for intact dogs in jurisdictions that price licensing to discourage unplanned breeding. Renewal is usually annual or tied to your rabies vaccination cycle. Exact fees and renewal periods are set locally.

How to get papers for a dog?

Papers require the dog's parents to be registered with a recognized registry (commonly AKC) and the litter to have been registered by the breeder after birth. If you bought a puppy whose breeder registered the litter but didn't transfer papers yet, contact the breeder directly to complete the registration transfer. A dog with unregistered parents cannot get papers retroactively.

How to get papers for my dog?

If your dog's litter was registered by its breeder, contact that breeder to request a registration transfer, usually through AKC's registration transfer process. If the litter was never registered (parents unregistered, or breeder didn't file), there is no way to retroactively get official pedigree papers, regardless of how purebred the dog appears to be.

How can I get papers for my dog?

Start by asking the breeder you purchased from whether the litter was registered with AKC or another registry; if yes, request a registration transfer in your name. If the litter was never registered, or the parents weren't registered, there's no retroactive path to official papers. Registries verify lineage through breeding records, not physical inspection of the adult dog.

Do you need a USDA license to breed and sell cats?

Only if you don't qualify for the retail pet store exemption, meaning you sell cats sight-unseen (shipped without an in-person buyer viewing, sold wholesale, or sold through a broker). Breeders who sell kittens in person, where the buyer sees the animal and premises before purchase, generally fall under the exemption and don't need a USDA dealer license ^[1]. Check with your local APHIS Animal Care office if you're unsure.

Is there a national cat breeder license?

No. There's no single federal or national cat breeder license. Regulation happens at three possible levels: breed registry registration (CFA/TICA, not a government license), state pet dealer or breeder statutes (many of which are dog-specific and don't cover cats at all), and USDA dealer licensing (only if you sell sight-unseen, per the Animal Welfare Act's dealer definition) ^[1].

Do cats need a license like dogs do?

Usually not. Most US cities and counties don't require cat licenses, unlike dog licenses which are common. A handful of jurisdictions do require cat registration or licensing, so check your specific city or county animal control page rather than assuming the rule matches your dog licensing requirement.

Sources

1. 9 CFR 1.1, Definitions (retail pet store) and 9 CFR 2.1, Requirements and application (license), Animal Welfare Act regulations: Retail pet store exemption covers in-person sales; sight-unseen sales may require a USDA dealer license
2. Ohio Revised Code Chapter 956, Dog Breeding: Ohio's high-volume breeder licensing law is defined around dog breeding operations
3. Pennsylvania Dog Law, 3 Pa.C.S. Chapter 20: Pennsylvania's Dog Law regulates dog kennels specifically, not cats
4. Indiana Code 15-21-1, Commercial Dog Breeders: Indiana requires state certification for commercial dog breeders exceeding specified intact female dog thresholds
5. 9 CFR Part 2, Subpart A, Licensing: USDA Animal Welfare Act licensing requirements for dealers are codified in 9 CFR Part 2