Help!

Karl Lagerfeld's cat Choupette still waiting for her inheritance — Six years after his death

Choupette's caretaker is engaged in a legal battle, trying to get the cat's allotted inheritance

Karl Lagerfeld signing his Choupette design

JUNE 3, 2026 9:45 PM EDTJUN 3, 2026, 9:45 PM EDT

Karl Lagerfeld's cat Choupette is still waiting on her inheritance. Choupette, perhaps the world's most fashionable cat, has been awaiting her inheritance since Lagerfeld's death six years ago. The fashion icon famously made it clear that Choupette would be set for life, inheriting millions of dollars in the case of his death. According to the cat's caretaker, the two have taken matters to court.

Karl Lagerfeld at the Chanel show as part of Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2014

As reported by The Atlantic, Françoise Caçote, Lagerfeld's former housekeeper and the current caretaker of Choupette, has received no payments for the cat.

"I want to be completely transparent: today, we have received absolutely nothing," Caçote said. "Given the situation's complexity, I have had to hire expensive lawyers to claim the inheritance in my name and ensure that Karl's wishes are properly respected."

"While things are being sorted out, I'm doing my best to honor his wishes, especially that Choupette wants for nothing. That's my top priority," she continued. "In addition to caring for her, I work part-time to support her. She receives all the love, attention, and care she needs."

Lagerfeld often spoke about his love for Choupette, with her becoming a big part of his image

"The most important thing is that she's happy, surrounded by love and affection, and protected as Karl would have wanted. We remain hopeful that the situation will one day be resolved peacefully," she concluded.

Choupette's agent, Lucas Bérullier, explained the legal reasoning behind this. "The law is the law. A cat can't own a bank account," he said.

Lagerfeld's love for his cat

In 2023, Doja Cat dressed up as Choupette

Choupette was one of Lagerfeld's great muses, being included in his brand designs and joining him on numerous events and trips.

In an interview with CBS, Lagerfeld opened up about his cat's inheritance. "She has her own little fortune, she is an heiress: If something happens to me, the person who will take care of it will not be in misery," he said. Lagerfeld died in 2019, at the age of 85.

Over the years, Lagerfeld opened up about his love for his cat. “I never thought that I could fall in love with an animal like this. If you saw her, you would understand," he said, as reported by The Atlantic.

He shared that Choupette didn't like to be alone and had people constantly attending her. “She has several maids. She’s never alone when I’m not there. Oh, no, no . . . Even if she sleeps, she doesn’t want to be alone. She’s like a chic lady—like a kept woman with her personal maid," he said to CNBC in 2017.