autochenille production was launched in 2007 by joann sfar, antoine delesvaux and clément oubrerie with the aim to make "author-driven, challenging films to appeal to children and adults." "the rabbi's cat" was the company's first project. the production was made in collaboration with tf1 and france 3. it was pre-bought by canal+ and cinecinéma and had a budget of 12.5 million euro. it is the second film directed by sfar, after "gainsbourg (vie héroïque)".