Can I feed pigeons and stray cats?
In principle, no. The departmental health rules (RSD) ban, in most towns, throwing or leaving food to attract stray or wild animals (pigeons, stray cats, etc.) when it favours their proliferation or creates nuisance (sanitation, damage, noise). Municipal orders can reinforce this ban. There are, however, supervised frameworks: managing free-roaming cats (sterilised, registered in the town's name) is organised with town halls and associations. Feeding your own pet is obviously not concerned.
📋 The rules
- RSD: ban on feeding stray/wild animals that creates nuisance
- Targets notably pigeons and stray cats
- Reasons: sanitation, proliferation, damage
- Municipal orders may reinforce the ban
- Managing free-roaming cats: supervised framework with the town hall
🔓 Exceptions
- 'Free cat' programmes (sterilisation, registration in the town's name)
- Feeding your own pet: not concerned
- Feeding garden birds in winter often tolerated, without nuisance
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Feeding stray or wild animals against the RSD is a 3rd-class offence, i.e. a fine of up to €450. Towns can also act on proven nuisance (damage, unsanitary conditions). Conversely, taking part in a supervised free-roaming-cat programme or feeding garden birds without creating nuisance stays possible.
📎 Official sources
- Service-Public.fr · Animal nuisance and neighbours →
- Ministry of Ecological Transition · Departmental health rules →
- Légifrance · Model departmental health rules (art. 120) →
❓ Frequently asked
Can you feed pigeons?
In principle no. The departmental health rules ban feeding pigeons and other stray animals when it favours their proliferation or creates nuisance. Municipal orders often reinforce this ban.
What's the fine for feeding stray animals?
Up to €450 (3rd-class offence) for breaching the departmental health rules. Towns can also act on proven nuisance (sanitation, damage).
And stray cats?
Feeding stray cats so as to favour their proliferation is also targeted. But managing 'free cats' (sterilised and registered in the town's name) is organised with town halls and associations: that's a legal, supervised framework.
Can you feed birds in your garden?
Feeding garden birds, especially in winter, is generally tolerated as long as it creates no nuisance or proliferation. Avoid large deposits on the ground that attract rodents and pigeons.
Why this ban?
For public-sanitation reasons: feeding favours the proliferation of pigeons and rodents, damage (corrosive droppings) and health risks. The aim is to avoid nuisance for neighbours and public space.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “feeding pigeons banned fine”
- “feeding stray cats law”
- “departmental health rules animals”
- “fine feeding pigeons 450”
- “free cats town”
- “feeding garden birds allowed”