A Cat in Paris was first screened on October 15, 2010 at the Saint-Quentin Ciné-Jeune Film Festival. It was released in French theaters on December 15, 2010. International distribution is by Films Distribution, Paris. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Along with Chico and Rita, it became one of two foreign-language films nominated for Best Animated Feature in one year, an Academy first that many observers considered a surprise. The film has also received a nomination for the Cesar Award for Best Animated Film in 2011.