Last updated 2026-08-17
TL;DR
Alabama has no single cattery statute. Every cattery selling, boarding, or breeding cats falls under the state's animal facility rules, plus USDA licensure if animals cross state lines. State renewal is annual. Fees and inspection cycles vary by county and facility type. Confirm current figures with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries before you file.
Do you need a license for a cattery in Alabama?
Yes, if money changes hands. Alabama regulates commercial animal facilities under the Alabama Animal Facilities Act (Ala. Code §§ 2-15-290 through 2-15-303), which covers breeders, dealers, and boarding operations handling dogs or cats commercially [1]. Sell cats, board cats for pay, or breed cats for sale, and you're inside that definition. You need a state permit from the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI). A private hobbyist who gives away the occasional litter sits in a gray area. Anyone taking money for animals or animal care does not.
Federal law adds a second layer. The Animal Welfare Act (AWA), run by USDA APHIS, requires licensure for any breeder selling cats to pet stores or dealers, or selling retail to buyers who aren't physically present (internet or phone sales across state lines), if they keep more than four breeding females [2]. Ship kittens to buyers in other states and you almost certainly need a USDA Class A or Class B license on top of your Alabama permit.
Local ordinances make three. Many Alabama counties and cities require a separate business license or zoning approval for an animal facility. Jefferson County, for example, runs its own animal control ordinances that reach commercial kennels. Check with your county probate court or planning department before you assume state approval covers you.
Most commercial catteries in Alabama need at minimum an ADAI facility permit. Ship interstate and you add a USDA APHIS license. Both renew every year.
What is the Alabama Animal Facilities Act and does it cover cats?
The Alabama Animal Facilities Act, codified at Ala. Code §§ 2-15-290 to 2-15-303, covers both dogs and cats [1]. It defines "animal facility" broadly: any premises where animals are kept for sale, exchange, or barter, or boarded for compensation. The statute gives ADAI power to inspect facilities, issue permits, and suspend or revoke them for violations.
The act was built around kennel-style operations, but ADAI applies it to catteries that meet the commercial threshold. The agency's Veterinary and Animal Feed Division handles these permits. Inspectors look at cage sizing, ventilation, sanitation records, disease prevention protocols, and veterinary care documentation.
Alabama Code § 2-15-292 requires a person to obtain a permit from the department before operating an animal facility. The language leaves no wiggle room. Operate commercially and you need the permit before you open, then renew it each year.
Alabama has no separate "cattery license" distinct from the animal facility permit. The permit covers the facility. Cats only, dogs only, or both, you fill out the same ADAI application and go through the same inspection.
How much does a cattery license cost in Alabama?
ADAI's animal facility permit fees are set by rule and have historically been tiered by animal count. The most recent published schedule ran from roughly $25 for small operations (under 10 animals) to $100 or more for larger facilities, but rulemaking can change these without legislative action [1]. Confirm the current fee schedule directly with ADAI's Veterinary and Animal Feed Division before you file.
USDA APHIS license fees follow the federal schedule at 9 CFR Part 2. Under APHIS's published fee rule, the annual Class A license fee (breeders) starts at $40 for gross revenues under $600 and scales to $750 for operations above $100,000 [2]. APHIS updates the schedule periodically, so verify at aphis.usda.gov.
You'll also pay a local business license in most Alabama counties. Those vary widely. A small county may charge $25 to $50 a year. Larger municipalities can charge $100 to $300 or more depending on gross receipts.
First-year cost for a small to mid-size cattery, counting state permit, USDA license, and a typical county business license, realistically runs $150 to $500 before any facility improvements. Renewal years tend to be cheaper because you skip the initial application and inspection fees, though ADAI runs periodic inspections that can trigger re-inspection fees if deficiencies turn up.
The table below shows approximate ranges across the three layers. Treat them as planning estimates, not fixed figures.
| License Layer | Issuing Authority | Approx. Annual Renewal Fee |
|---|---|---|
| State animal facility permit | ADAI (Alabama) | $25 to $100+ (varies by animal count) |
| Federal USDA APHIS (if interstate) | USDA APHIS | $40 to $750 (varies by gross revenue) |
| County/city business license | Local probate court or city clerk | $25 to $300+ (varies by locality) |
None of these figures include veterinary health certificate costs for individual animal sales, which run $30 to $75 per cat at many Alabama vet practices.
How long does cattery licensing and renewal take in Alabama?
Initial ADAI permits require a physical inspection before the permit issues. ADAI schedules inspections through its regional offices, and wait times track inspector workload. First-time inspections have been scheduled anywhere from two to six weeks after application, but ADAI publishes no confirmed processing timeline. Build in at least 60 days from application to permit in hand if you're planning an opening date.
Renewal moves faster because you're a known facility. ADAI mails renewal notices to permitted facilities ahead of the expiration date. If your facility has no outstanding violations and your paperwork is current, renewal can go through administratively without a new inspection, though inspectors can show up unannounced at any permitted facility at any time under the statute [1].
USDA APHIS initial licensure takes longer. APHIS requires a pre-license inspection, and you must show compliance with AWA standards (9 CFR Parts 1, 2, and 3) before the license issues [2]. APHIS inspection scheduling can run four to twelve weeks depending on your Animal Care regional office. Once licensed, USDA renewals are annual and usually processed by mail or online through the APHIS customer portal. APHIS publishes no firm processing window for renewals either.
Submit renewal paperwork 60 to 90 days before your permit expires. Operating with an expired permit violates Ala. Code § 2-15-292 and can bring fines or facility closure. Don't wait for the notice to land.
What does ADAI inspect during a cattery renewal in Alabama?
ADAI inspectors work from the requirements in the Animal Facilities Act and its administrative rules. A renewal inspection checks cage dimensions (minimum square footage per animal), ventilation and temperature control, access to clean water and appropriate food, sanitation records, isolation protocols for sick animals, and evidence of veterinary care such as vaccination records [1].
For cats, inspectors watch whether housing lets cats hide or perch (a behavioral welfare concern showing up in more state-level guidance), whether litter boxes are present and cleaned on a documented schedule, and whether the facility has written disease control procedures with FHV-1, FCV, and FPV vaccination records.
Violations produce a written deficiency report. Minor deficiencies usually get a corrective action window before the permit renews. Serious or repeat violations can bring permit suspension under § 2-15-298 [1]. Critical animal welfare violations get no grace period.
USDA-licensed too? Expect a separate APHIS inspection on a different cycle. APHIS renewal inspections are unannounced. Inspectors use the AWA standards at 9 CFR Part 3, Subpart A (Standards for Dogs and Cats) as their checklist [3]. A facility that passes ADAI can still fail APHIS. The standards overlap but aren't identical.
What USDA APHIS requirements apply to Alabama catteries?
Sell cats to buyers who aren't present in person (including online sales to out-of-state buyers), or sell to pet stores or brokers, and you need a USDA APHIS license under the Animal Welfare Act [2]. The retail pet store exemption tightened in 2013: USDA's definition changed so that operations selling over the internet or phone to buyers who can't physically observe the animal before purchase are treated as dealers or breeders requiring licensure, no matter how small [4].
Class A covers breeders who keep a breeding colony. Class B covers dealers who buy and resell animals. Most catteries are Class A. The application runs through USDA APHIS Animal Care, and your facility must pass a pre-license inspection against 9 CFR Part 3 before your license issues [3].
The federal standards set minimum primary enclosure size. For cats, the floor space formula is: the cat's length in inches, plus 6 inches, squared, then divided by 144, giving square footage. Each adult cat gets that much space plus room to turn around and make normal postural adjustments [3]. The standards also require an attending veterinarian under a written program of veterinary care, and recordkeeping on every animal covering acquisition, disposition, and health status.
USDA license renewal is annual. You file through the APHIS Customer Portal and pay the fee tied to your prior-year gross revenue from regulated animals. Licenses expire on a set date, and APHIS doesn't hand out grace period extensions as a matter of course.
How do you actually file for Alabama cattery renewal?
For the ADAI animal facility permit renewal, it starts with a renewal notice ADAI mails to your address of record. The notice includes a renewal form and the current fee schedule. You fill out the form, confirm your facility information hasn't changed materially, attach a check or money order for the renewal fee, and mail it back to ADAI's Veterinary and Animal Feed Division in Montgomery [1]. If no notice shows up, you can start some renewals by phoning ADAI directly. The main office number is (334) 240-7253.
If your facility changed, such as a new address, expanded animal count, or new ownership, flag it on the renewal form. Those changes can trigger a new inspection or an amended permit rather than a simple renewal.
For USDA APHIS renewal, log in to the APHIS Customer Portal at aphis.usda.gov, select your license for renewal, verify your facility and animal information, and pay the fee online [2]. Your renewed license certificate arrives by mail.
County-level business licenses vary. Most Alabama counties handle these through the county probate judge's office or the county revenue commissioner. Some cities run their own through the city clerk. You can usually renew by mail, in person, or increasingly online through county e-government portals.
Working through initial USDA paperwork for the first time and want the full application packet in one place? CatteryPath's USDA + State Cattery Kit assembles the federal and Alabama-specific forms for $149 one-time. All the underlying forms are free directly from ADAI and APHIS. The kit is a time-saver, not a gatekeeper.
What happens if your Alabama cattery permit lapses?
Operating without a valid permit violates Ala. Code § 2-15-292, and ADAI has authority under § 2-15-298 to impose civil penalties, seize animals, and refer violations to the Alabama Attorney General's office [1]. The penalties aren't trivial. Civil fines under the act can reach up to $1,000 per violation per day for continuing violations, though first-time inadvertent lapses often get a warning and a chance to cure before formal enforcement.
A lapsed USDA APHIS license carries separate federal consequences. Selling regulated animals without a valid license violates the Animal Welfare Act, 7 U.S.C. § 2149, which authorizes civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation and can bring license revocation [5]. APHIS takes unlicensed dealing seriously and investigates complaints.
The real hit for most small catteries is reputational and operational. You can't legally sell, and buyers, pet stores, and shelters that require proof of licensure will walk. Renew on time. It's what keeps you operating legally.
Do Alabama hobby breeders and small catteries get any exemptions?
Alabama's Animal Facilities Act publishes no bright-line animal count threshold the way some states do. The exemption question turns on whether you're operating "commercially," which ADAI reads as taking money for animals or animal care services on a recurring basis [1]. Breed one litter a year from a family pet and sell the kittens locally, and you likely fall outside the act. There's no statutory safe harbor written in numbers.
At the federal level, USDA's historic "four or fewer breeding females" exemption was narrowed sharply by the 2013 rulemaking that took effect in 2014 [4]. Operations selling even one animal sight-unseen to the public, or selling to dealers, may need a USDA license regardless of size. The rule answered internet sales practices that let large operations dodge licensure by selling straight to consumers.
On the boundary? The most protective move is to call ADAI and APHIS directly, describe your operation factually, and ask for a written determination. Both agencies prefer compliance conversations to enforcement, and getting clarity in writing protects you if questions come up later.
How does Alabama cattery renewal compare to neighboring states?
Alabama sits mid-tier in the Southeast. Georgia runs a similar commercial animal dealer licensing system through the Georgia Department of Agriculture, with a comparable fee schedule see [cattery renewal in Georgia]. Florida runs a more detailed process through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, with explicit kennel and pet dealer categories and higher inspection frequency see [cattery renewal in Florida]. Arkansas has a tiered breeder permit system with annual renewal through the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission see [cattery renewal in Arkansas].
Against western states, Alabama's process is simpler. Colorado requires both a state license and often county-level pet animal facility licenses, with detailed facility standards above Alabama's current minimums see [cattery renewal in Colorado].
One truth holds across all these states: USDA APHIS requirements are federal and uniform. Your Alabama cattery faces the same AWA standards as a cattery in California or Connecticut. State law is the variable. Federal law is the constant.
For how other state renewal processes work, the articles on cattery renewal in Arizona and cattery renewal in Illinois cover states with notably different fee structures and inspection cycles.
What records do you need to keep for Alabama cattery compliance?
ADAI requires permitted facilities to keep records that document animal inventory, acquisition, disposition, and veterinary care. There's no single prescribed form, but inspectors expect a running log of cats on premises (approximate age, sex, breed), acquisition records showing where each animal came from, sale or disposition records, and vaccination and veterinary visit records [1].
USDA APHIS wants more structured recordkeeping under 9 CFR § 2.75 [9]. Licensed facilities must keep acquisition and disposition records for three years, and those records must include the USDA license number of any licensed party you acquired animals from or sold to. The attending veterinarian keeps a written program of veterinary care and documents all treatments and health assessments.
The simplest system in practice is a spreadsheet per cat from arrival to disposition, with columns for source, acquisition date, medical treatments, sale or transfer date, and buyer contact. Cloud-based or paper both work. APHIS inspectors want the records, not a particular software platform.
Keep records at least three years from the date of each animal's disposition. APHIS can inspect records during any announced or unannounced facility inspection.
If your cattery is registered with a breed registry like TICA or CFA, those groups have their own registration documentation requirements, separate from and on top of state and federal recordkeeping. Confirm the specifics at tica.org or cfa.org depending on your registry [6][7].
What should you do right now if you're not sure about your Alabama cattery status?
Start with two calls. First, call ADAI's Veterinary and Animal Feed Division at (334) 240-7253 and describe your operation: how many cats you keep, how many breeding females, whether you sell locally or ship, and whether you board cats for pay. Ask directly whether you need a permit and what the current application and renewal fee is. Take notes. Get a name.
Second, if you ship any animals or sell sight-unseen, contact USDA APHIS Animal Care and ask the same questions. The APHIS animal care information line is 1-844-820-2234. Their staff field compliance questions daily and will tell you whether your operation triggers licensure.
Getting into paperwork assembly for USDA and state licensing at once? CatteryPath's Cattery Kit consolidates the federal and Alabama-specific documents for $149. Completely optional. Both ADAI and APHIS distribute their forms for free. The kit is for people who want everything organized before the first call.
Don't assume you're too small to matter. APHIS stepped up enforcement after the 2013 rule change, and ADAI does receive and investigate complaints from the public about unlicensed facilities. The compliance path is straightforward. Avoiding it is the expensive choice.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license for a cattery in Alabama?
Yes, if you're operating commercially. Alabama's Animal Facilities Act (Ala. Code §§ 2-15-290 to 2-15-303) requires an ADAI permit for anyone who sells, boards, or breeds cats for compensation. You may also need a USDA APHIS license if you sell cats interstate or sight-unseen. Hobby breeders giving away occasional litters from family pets occupy a gray area; call ADAI at (334) 240-7253 to get a definitive answer for your situation.
How much does a cattery permit cost in Alabama?
ADAI's animal facility permit fee has historically ranged from about $25 for very small operations to $100 or more for larger ones, tiered by animal count. If you also need a USDA APHIS license, that fee runs $40 to $750 annually based on your prior-year gross revenue from regulated animals. Add a county business license at $25 to $300 depending on your locality. Confirm all current fees directly with ADAI and APHIS before filing, as both are subject to change by rulemaking.
How long does cattery licensing take in Alabama?
Initial ADAI permits require a physical inspection first, which can take two to six weeks to schedule after application. Add processing time and plan for 60 days minimum. USDA APHIS initial licensure also requires a pre-license inspection and typically takes four to twelve weeks depending on your regional office's schedule. Renewals are faster for both agencies if your facility is in good standing. Submit renewal paperwork 60 to 90 days before expiration to avoid any gap.
What is the Alabama Animal Facilities Act?
It's the state law codified at Ala. Code §§ 2-15-290 through 2-15-303 that governs commercial animal facilities including catteries, kennels, and dealers. It requires an annual permit from the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, gives ADAI authority to inspect facilities without advance notice, and authorizes civil penalties and permit revocation for violations. The act covers both dogs and cats sold, boarded, or bred for compensation.
Does Alabama require a separate cattery license or just a general animal facility permit?
Alabama does not issue a permit called a "cattery license." The relevant document is an animal facility permit issued by ADAI under the Animal Facilities Act. It covers the physical facility regardless of species. Whether you house cats exclusively, dogs exclusively, or both, you use the same application form and go through the same inspection process. The permit is renewed annually.
Do small Alabama catteries need a USDA license?
It depends on how you sell. If you sell cats only in person to buyers who can physically see the animal before purchase, and you sell only retail (not to stores or brokers), you may fall under the USDA retail pet store exemption. If you sell online, by phone, or ship cats to buyers in other states, the 2013 USDA rule change likely requires you to hold a USDA APHIS Class A license regardless of how many breeding females you have. Call APHIS at 1-844-820-2234 to confirm.
What happens if my Alabama cattery permit lapses?
Operating with a lapsed ADAI permit violates Ala. Code § 2-15-292. ADAI can impose civil fines up to $1,000 per day per violation, seize animals, and refer the case to the Alabama AG's office. A lapsed USDA license carries separate federal consequences under 7 U.S.C. § 2149, with civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation. Renew before your expiration date; both agencies track expiration and do respond to complaints.
What does an ADAI cattery inspection look at?
Inspectors check cage dimensions and square footage per animal, ventilation and temperature control, access to clean water and appropriate food, sanitation records, isolation protocols for sick animals, and veterinary care documentation including vaccination records. For cats, they increasingly note whether housing allows perching and hiding behavior. Deficiencies get a written report and a corrective action window; serious or repeat violations can trigger permit suspension.
How do I contact ADAI to renew my cattery permit?
Contact ADAI's Veterinary and Animal Feed Division directly. Their main office is in Montgomery, Alabama, and the general number is (334) 240-7253. ADAI mails renewal notices to the address of record before permit expiration. If you haven't received a notice and your expiration is approaching, call rather than wait. For USDA APHIS renewal, use the APHIS Customer Portal at aphis.usda.gov and renew online.
Does Alabama have a hobby breeder exemption from the cattery permit requirement?
Alabama's Animal Facilities Act doesn't state an explicit animal-count exemption. The commercial threshold is the key factor: if you take money for animals or animal care on a recurring basis, ADAI considers you a commercial facility. Truly occasional private breeders who give or sell kittens from a single family pet may not need a permit, but there's no numeric safe harbor in the statute. Get written confirmation from ADAI for your specific situation.
How often does ADAI inspect cattery facilities?
ADAI may inspect any permitted facility at any time under the Animal Facilities Act without advance notice. In practice, most facilities see a scheduled inspection at initial permitting and then periodic unannounced inspections during the permit year, particularly if complaints are filed. USDA APHIS conducts separate unannounced annual inspections of federally licensed facilities. There's no fixed inspection frequency published for routine renewals; assume inspectors can appear any business day.
What records does an Alabama cattery need to keep for compliance?
ADAI expects animal inventory logs, acquisition and disposition records, and veterinary care documentation including vaccination records. USDA APHIS requires more structured records under 9 CFR § 2.75: acquisition and disposition logs kept for three years, including USDA license numbers for any licensed counterparties. A simple per-cat spreadsheet covering source, arrival date, medical treatments, and sale or transfer date satisfies both agencies in most inspections.
Is there a grace period if my Alabama cattery permit expires?
Neither ADAI nor the statute explicitly provides a formal grace period for expired permits. ADAI has discretion over enforcement and often handles first-time inadvertent lapses with a warning before formal action, but you should not count on that. Operating without a valid permit is a violation the day it expires. Submit renewal paperwork 60 to 90 days early to eliminate the risk of any gap if processing runs slow.
How does Alabama's cattery regulation compare to Georgia and Florida?
All three states require state-level animal facility or dealer permits with annual renewal, and all three layer on top of USDA APHIS requirements for interstate sellers. Florida's process through FDACS is somewhat more detailed with explicit kennel and pet dealer license categories and higher inspection frequency. Georgia's system through the Georgia Department of Agriculture is structurally similar to Alabama's. State fees and inspection cycles vary; the USDA AWA standards are uniform across all three.
Sources
- Alabama Legislature, Alabama Animal Facilities Act, Ala. Code §§ 2-15-290 to 2-15-303: Alabama requires a permit from ADAI for any person operating an animal facility commercially; permits are annual; ADAI may inspect without notice; civil penalties up to $1,000 per day per violation apply for unpermitted operation
- USDA APHIS, 9 CFR Part 3 Subpart A, Standards for Dogs and Cats: Federal AWA standards specify minimum primary enclosure space for cats using a formula based on body length plus 6 inches squared divided by 144; facilities must have an attending veterinarian and maintain records under 9 CFR § 2.75
- USDA APHIS, Final Rule: Definition of Retail Pet Store, 78 Fed. Reg. 46560 (August 2, 2013): The 2013 USDA rule narrowed the retail pet store exemption so that breeders selling animals sight-unseen (including internet and phone sales to out-of-state buyers) require USDA licensure regardless of the number of breeding females they maintain
- U.S. Code, 7 U.S.C. § 2149, Animal Welfare Act Civil Penalties: Animal Welfare Act authorizes civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation for selling regulated animals without a valid USDA license; penalties may also include license revocation
- The International Cat Association (TICA): TICA cattery registration has its own requirements and fees separate from state and federal licensing obligations
- Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA): CFA cattery name registration requirements are separate from and additional to state and federal animal facility permit requirements
- Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries: ADAI's Veterinary and Animal Feed Division administers the animal facility permit program in Alabama; contact number (334) 240-7253
- USDA APHIS Animal Care, 9 CFR Part 2, § 2.75, Records: Dealers and Exhibitors: USDA-licensed facilities must maintain acquisition and disposition records for three years, including USDA license numbers of licensed counterparties
- USDA APHIS, Animal Care Standards, 9 CFR Part 2 Subpart C (Licensing): APHIS requires a pre-license inspection demonstrating AWA compliance before a new USDA animal facility license is issued; APHIS renewal inspections are unannounced