🐈 Am I allowed to have an outdoor cat in Sweden?

With conditions

Quick answer

Yes — a cat may roam free outdoors, but you as the owner are responsible for it. Since 1 January 2023, ID-marking and registration are mandatory for all cats, both indoor and outdoor, under the Supervision of Dogs and Cats Act (2007:1150). The cat must be marked and registered in the Board of Agriculture's cat register before it is 4 months old and before any sale. Registration costs 40 kr via the e-service (100 kr on a paper form). An unregistered cat is more readily treated as ownerless. Inside a detailed-plan area in Stockholm, police permission is needed to put down a stray cat.

📋 The rules

A cat may roam free, but the owner is responsible
ID-marking + registration mandatory since 1 Jan 2023
Register in the cat register before the cat is 4 months old
Fee: 40 kr via the e-service (100 kr on paper)
The register is run by the Board of Agriculture

🔓 Exceptions

A cat assumed abandoned may, as a last resort, be put down by the hunting-rights holder
Inside a detailed-plan area (most of Stockholm) police permission is needed to put down a cat
Indoor cats are not exempt from the ID requirement

⚠️ Penalties & fines

There is no fixed fine — the county board can issue an injunction with a conditional fine. An unregistered cat is more readily treated as ownerless, and animal-welfare failings can lead to seizure.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-06-20

❓ Frequently asked

Can my cat roam outdoors freely?

Yes, a cat may roam free, but you as the owner are responsible and must have it ID-marked and registered.

Must I register my cat?

Yes. Since 1 January 2023 all cats, indoor and outdoor, must be ID-marked and registered with the Board of Agriculture.

When must registration be done?

Before the cat is 4 months old, and before you sell or give it away.

What does it cost to register the cat?

40 kr via the Board of Agriculture's e-service, or 100 kr if you use a paper form.

What happens if the cat is not registered?

It is more readily treated as ownerless, and you can receive an injunction from the county board.

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