It may be a “dog’s world” when it comes to service work for those people with specific needs; however, that doesn’t mean cats can’t play a different role for people suffering from mental or emotional issues.
Cats (or any other type of animal) can indeed be considered an Emotional Support Animal (ESA). Cats can provide love and emotional support to their owners in the same way dogs can. Let’s explore this topic further.
If you are ready to make your cat an emotional support animal, start the questionnaire below.
What is an Emotional Support Animal?
If you’re not familiar with the term ‘Emotional Support Animal’ it simply defines any animal species that brings comfort to an individual. The emotional support cat is more than just a pet, but rather an animal that helps the person suffering from an emotional or mental disability cope/live a normal life.
ESA’s are not considered service animals as they have no specific training for executing specific tasks like fetching medication or helping the blind to cross a busy intersection. However, emotional support animals are recognized by the Fair Housing Act and the Air Carrier Access Act for those with the proper documentation stating their need for the ESA.
What is the Fair Housing Act and Air Carrier Access Act for Cats?
Did you know that the FHA and ACAA allows emotional support cats to live and fly with their owners? Additional pet fees cannot be charged for emotional support cats.
The FHA or Fair Housing Act allows you to live with your emotional support cat, even in “no-pets” apartments and condos. The FHA protects ESA owners from unlawful discriminatory acts by landlords and homeowner associations (HOA). If you find yourself being turned away for owning an ESA cat, you can contact the HUD and file a complaint.
The ACAA or Air Carrier Access Act allows you to travel with your emotional support cat. You do not have to pay any additional fees or purchase an additional ticket when flying with your emotional support cat. Remember to contact your airline and have all required documents ready before arriving at the airport. We suggest contacting your airline at least 48 hours in advance.
Do You Qualify for an Emotional Support Animal?
To officially qualify for an emotional support cat, you must get an ESA letter from a licensed mental health professional stating your need for an ESA.
If you suffer from anxiety, depression, panic attacks, PTSD, or any number of mental illnesses you may already qualify for an emotional support animal. To officially qualify for an emotional support cat, you must have an ESA letter from a licensed mental health professional stating your need for an ESA. We recommend talking to your own therapist, but if you do not have one or do not have access to one, you may connect with a therapist in our network by clicking the link below and filling out the questionnaire.
How Can I Get an ESA Letter for my Cat?
Click here to qualify for your ESA letter from a licensed health professional.
Emotional Support Cat Requirements
Making your cat an emotional support animal is not difficult or complicated. It is actually quite easy to qualify your cat as an ESA if you suffer from depression, anxiety, panic attacks, or any other mental illnesses.
- Have a cat or get a cat. If you don’t have a cat, we suggest contacting your local ASPCA or Humane Society.
- Make sure your cat gives you emotional support.
- Get an ESA letter from a licensed therapist.
- Contact your landlord and/or airline and provide your ESA letter.
Cats As Emotional Support Animals
Scientific research has been telling us for years that pet parenting an animal is good for our mental health. This includes lowering stress levels, reducing loneliness and helping us sleep better.
It is true that cats tend to be more aloof than their canine counterparts, but that doesn’t mean the feline species won’t work as an ESA, you may just need to take some time when searching out the perfect candidate. Here are five tips on finding a great emotional support feline.
Cats make excellent emotional support animals.
Tips For Your Future Emotional Support Cat
Tip #1 – Breed Specifics
If your mental health professional has prescribed an emotional support animal for you, there are specific breeds of cats that are more people-orientated by nature. These include the Scottish Fold, Tonkinese, and Ragdoll to name a few.
Tip #2 – No Feral Cats
It is always wonderful to rescue street cats, but when it comes to having a cat as an ESA, that feral fellow may not work. Feral cats tend to be wild, nervous and afraid of humans. These cats can be “tamed” but it takes time, patience and the right person to do so. When searching for an emotional support feline, leave the feral strays to the experts.
Tip #3 – Bonding
Allowing a cat to develop a close bond with a human is easier when the feline is young. Kittens are less likely to have “hangups” about humans and if bought from a reputable breeder, the kitten should already be well socialized. This doesn’t mean you can’t find an older cat that is just as loving, but again, do some looking around before you expect just any cat to become your ESA.
Tip #4 – Indoors Only
Indoor only felines tend to be more people-orientated as they are not always experiencing “the call of the wild.” Keeping your cat indoors is also healthier for your feline as he/she is less likely to be injured, to pick up internal and external parasites or go missing.
Tip# 5 – Spay or Neuter
Unaltered cats will most likely not make a good ESA. Males left intact have a tendency to urine mark and can be more aggressive in nature. Females left unaltered will constantly be coming into heat and will try their best to escape outdoors to be bred. Having these extra worries is not good if you are already suffering from emotional issues.
Cats are awesome. They can provide comfort and support to those that need it most.
Cats Are Awesome!
If you have been diagnosed with an emotional or mental disability and have been prescribed an ESA, then getting a feline is not out-of-the-question. Follow these tips and do some searching for the best cat to meet your needs.
If you haven’t been prescribed an emotional support animal, follow the link below to get started on your path to making your cat an official ESA. You will be happy you did and so will your new furry pal.
Qualify for your ESA Cat letter today
100% Money back guarantee if you do not qualify
I live in a hotel. The hotel has had on file a letter from my shrink saying I need a cat because it makes me feel better. I am a navy disabled veteran I suffer from PTSD as well as a manic depression and anxiety. After my cat has been here a year with me. They now say she is not qu as lified because she needs to be trained and have a license. We jumped through hoops to get her both from here the hotel as well as the adoption place they would not let us adopt unless hotel says it was ok. We got her at 2 months old she was fixed as well as micro chipped. She has been a indoor cat. Forgot to mention as well my son has autism. They are now asking for another letter from my dr stating they are subscribing my cat as a emotional support animal as well as to have a letter they are certified as well as it has to have training and the letter from them. This irritates me as much as kicks off my ptsd as well as depression the laws are vague about those that live in a hotel rather then being homeless. How do I fight this. My doctors are VA doctors.
This is a somewhat unique situation because a hotel is generally not subject to Fair Housing rules regarding ESAs. We’ll leave your comment here in case anyone in this forum has any advice.
I have a LPC that I have been working with for the past 6 months. Can she provide a letter of recommendation for my ESA? I suffer from anxiety and until recently started feeling anxious on flights.
A license counselor is capable of writing an ESA recommendation.
What protects the landlord from your cat destroying my apartments? The carpet and flooring will be damaged and the smell will make my apartments unlivable. Anxiety is real but why is it ok to destroy my investment? How am I protected ?
ESA owners are always responsible for damage caused by their animals. Landlords can deduct expenses for such damages from the tenant’s general security deposit.
We had a litter box problem with our rescue cat. We live in MN and she is not a fan of the snow so she doesn’t go outside in the winter months. During our first winter with her we discovered that she had been urinating on towels and on the carpet in our attic guest room. The towels could be thrown out but we didn’t know what to do about the carpet. After some research on the issue, and some trial/error that she is very picky about her cat litter. She prefers a fine grain/gravel litter and won’t use her litter box if it is scented if if the litter pebbles are too big. We then decided to try to clean up the urine stain but we’re worried that we would have to replace the carpet. The stains had been there a little while and the smell of cat urine Is hard to treat. We went to pets mart and bought a few different products. The best one one was a spray made of essential oils and enzymes. We had to treat some spots 2 -3 time but the smell is gone. I also used it on a few of the towels. Sprayed it on really heavy and ran it through a sanitize setting on my washing machine and it worked. We use those towels for when we bath our dog and cats but they smell is gone. It was called “Only Natural Pet Cat Stain and Odor Remover- Mandarin and Green Tea Scent” and it cost around $12 for a fairly large bottle. I’ve used a fair amount of it on this project and only really used half the bottle. The smell was nice but I shampooed the rugs after the cleanup sonI can’t smell it anymore. As a landlord who may be concerned about cleaning up after pet owners who leave a tricky mess for you, I would recommend it. I was skeptical but iI wouldn’t suggest it if it didn’t work. Good luck.