Published: 17.10.2026
The .cat zone is linked to the Catalan language and to the culture of the communities that speak it. Catalan is a Romance language spoken in several regions of Spain, in the Balearic Islands, in Andorra and in parts of southern France. A name in .cat signals a connection with that language, which is why Catalan-language media, schools, writers and cultural groups often choose it. Use the availability form just below this text to see whether your name in .cat is still available.
Check if a .cat domain is available .cat Check
A short history
Catalan has a long written history, with medieval texts and a modern literature that continues to grow. It is taught in schools, used in newspapers, broadcasting and publishing, and supported by cultural bodies in its home regions. The .cat zone was created to serve this community, and its conditions may reflect that purpose. Some visitors will think of the animal first, and that double meaning can make a light joke, but the zone itself is about language.
Who runs it
A registry operator manages the zone and publishes its registration conditions, which may take the zone's cultural purpose into account. Registrars sell names to the public and forward the orders. Because conditions can change, check the current rules before you order, including any requirement about the site's content or the registrant's link with the community.
Rules in practice
- Community purpose: the conditions may ask for a link with the Catalan language or culture, so check the current terms before you register.
- Language of the site: content can be in Catalan, Spanish, English or other languages, but each page should make its language clear.
- Name rules: labels are built from letters, digits and hyphens, with a 63-character limit.
- Renewal: a language project that lets its name lapse can lose a long archive of articles, so renew early.
Who uses .cat
- Catalan-language newspapers, radio stations and online magazines.
- Schools, language courses and tutors who teach Catalan to adults and children.
- Cultural associations, festivals, choirs and folk groups.
- Authors, publishers and local businesses that want to show their Catalan identity.
Strengths
- The address shows a clear link with the Catalan language and culture, which local readers notice at once.
- The name is short and easy to read on posters, programmes and business cards.
- It suits projects that publish in several languages, because the ending does not fix the language of the content.
Things to keep in mind
- A link with a language should be real, since a name that suggests a connection without one can mislead visitors.
- Conditions for registration may differ from those of generic endings, and they can change over time.
- Readers who expect a generic address may type .com, so decide whether you want both addresses.
- Good Catalan needs careful proofreading, because native readers spot spelling and grammar errors immediately.
Tips before you register
- Check the name in .com and in the cultural directories and language networks you already use.
- Write the organisation's name in its official form, and in Catalan if that is its usual form.
- Publish a legal notice, a privacy notice and contact details in the language your readers use.
- Set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC records before you send newsletters or event tickets from the domain.
- Name a second person who receives the registrar's renewal notices, so a single inbox does not decide the name's future.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to write in Catalan to use .cat? No. The ending points to the language and culture, but the site can use several languages. Check the current conditions for any requirement that applies to the content.
Is .cat only for language organisations? No. Media, schools, festivals, writers and businesses that serve the community can use it too, as long as they meet the registration conditions.
Does a .cat domain help a site appear in Catalan search? It signals language and audience, but well-written Catalan content, fast pages and genuine links usually carry more weight.
