You can register your cat as an emotional support animal in a registry, but getting an ESA letter is way more important. An ESA letter from a licensed therapist or doctor is what legally turns your cat into an ESA. After doing that, you can voluntarily register your cat as an ESA, but that extra step is not required, and your landlord canโt force you to do it.
Register Your Emotional Support Cat
Reasons to Register Your Emotional Support Cat
You donโt need to register your cat as an emotional support animal by law, but there are some reasons many ESA owners still do it:
1. Dealing with Landlords
A few landlords insist on seeing proof of registration for ESAs, and some people find that presenting a registration along with their ESA letter can make the accommodation process smoother. It can help to avoid lengthy explanations or misunderstandings, especially if the landlord is unfamiliar with ESA laws. Donโt forget, though, that you can always stand your ground and refuse – landlords are not entitled to see registration proof.
2. Access to Additional Resources
ESA registries often provide access to additional resources, such as ID cards, harnesses, or tags that indicate the animalโs status as an ESA that are linked to a unique registration number. These are used so concierges and neighbors can quickly identify the animals in residential buildings that normally donโt let pets in.
3. Symbolic Value
Some ESA owners want to further document that their cat qualified for an ESA and affirm their bond with their cat and the role they play in their emotional well-being. Itโs not an โofficialโ step but can have symbolic value to some to say they have an ESA registered in a publicly searchable database.
The Process to Register an Emotional Support Animal
If you want to register your emotional support cat, here are the steps to do so:
- Talk to your doctor or therapist
Before you can register an ESA or get any other optional ESA perks, you have to actually qualify for one. The first step in that process is to ask your doctor or therapist about whether an emotional support animal is right for you, or better yet, go through ESA Doctors and get it done online.
- Get your ESA Letter
Have your doctor or therapist document your need for an emotional support animal in a signed ESA letter with their licensing information.
- Register your emotional support cat online
If you have your ESA letter, congrats! Youโre now officially the owner of an emotional support animal. You can register your ESA in a private emotional support registry and get an ID card. Find an organization thatโs been around for a long time and requires you to be qualified for an ESA before you can sign up. If the site hints that you can qualify for an ESA just by registering, stay away!
Qualify for an ESA and register your cat as your emotional support animal
FAQs
There is no official government registry for emotional support cats. Voluntary ESA registries are run by various private organizations.
ESA laws are clear that you do not need any special registration for an emotional support animal. Landlords are frequently mistaken about this. Some ESA owners will obtain registration just to comply, but it is not necessary. An ESA letter is the only proof your landlord can ask for!
ESA registries are run by private organizations, and the cost can vary. Keep in mind that if your finances are in a delicate situation, you donโt need to take the additional step of registration after getting your ESA letter. ESA laws are designed to help you save money by not paying pet related fees and deposits. The cost for an ESA letter can vary, but you can get one online through ESA Doctors for a low flat rate.ย
No, registering an emotional support cat does not get you any additional legal benefits. You get the legal perks of having an ESA by having an ESA letter that was personally written for you by a therapist or doctor.
If your municipality requires the registration of cats as pets, having ESA status generally does not exempt you. You will still need to register your cat as a pet with your city or county. Many areas do not require the registration or licensing of cats as pets.
Emotional support cats have housing rights protected under federal and state law. You can live with your ESA in no-pet buildings without having to pay pet fees or pet deposits. Emotional support cats are also exempt from weight and breed restrictions.
We recently got a cat/kitten we are training as an ESA, but we already had two cats in the household. Our apartments have a limitation of two pets per apartment. While ESA bypasses “no pet” rules, I’m worried that the third cat who is the ESA will cause an issue. In most cases, would my ESA count against my total number of animals? I’ve had the other two cats for 13 years, so it isn’t an option to rehome.
One of the original two cats functions as an ESA for my spouse. We could potantially register this animal as well, but I’m still concerned the apartments will try to make us abandon one of the cats.
There is no technical limit to how many ESAs a tenant can have. However, each ESA must be covered by a recommendation letter from a licensed healthcare professional, and all of the animals must be kept safely and humanely in the living space.
My wife and I both have letters from our own Mental Health Physician stating the medical necessity for our cats. In addition to these letters, my landlord is ‘requiring/requesting’ more information, and I quote, ” All specific animals and names and breeds that are assistance animals in the home”. Each letter specifically states multiple cats, plus what does the “breed” of specific domestic house cats have to do with anything… can they really need this information or is there some hidden agenda, ulterior motive behind their request?
We’re not sure why your landlord is asking for that information, perhaps just to be able to identify the animals that belong to you? Prohibiting an ESA based on breed is certainly not allowed, but we’re not sure a landlord is prohibited from simply asking what breed the animal is.
wondering if emotional support animal- cat- has to pay to fly with you ? or is this fee removed? thank you
Airlines are not allowed to charge fees for ESAs to fly with their owners. You may find this article helpful: https://esadoctors.com/airline-requirements-for-traveling-with-an-emotional-support-dog/
What type of training does and ESA cat need?
ESAs do not need any special training. They are different from service animals which require training to perform specific tasks to help with a disability.
Hopefully, you would not ever consider declawing your cat given the lifelong damage it is known to cause. An organization called citythekitty.org is fighting landlords in your state requiring this procedure. Check them out for needed ammo to oppose this regulation. Good luck & God bless you for being a great cat mom & unwilling to amputate your cat’s toe bones.
I have a motor tic disorder since I was thirteen years old. After several years, symptoms are reduced but whenever Iโm in stress, I still have no stopping twitching. Am I able to get ESA letter for tic disorder?
We recommend that you speak to a licensed health care professional about your disorder and whether an ESA could potentially help.
I have an ESA..my cat. My landlord is requiring he be neutered and I give her all vet records. Can they require this?
The landlord can take steps to ensure your ESA is not posing a health hazard to others. It seems excessive however to require that an ESA be neutered. ESA owners are responsible for ensuring their ESAs are under proper veterinary care.
My landlord requires a cat to be declawed. I have a letter that says I would greatly benefit by having an ESA, but I don’t have an ESA right now. I have the perfect candidate pet, but am having difficulties with my landlord trying to charge me a $450 pet deposit. I spoke to HUD and got some information emailed to me which I emailed to my landlord. My fear is that my landlord is going to say I cannot get the cat that I would like to acquire due to the fact that they have claws. HUD had no information on this. Do I have to abide by the declaw law for my ESA animal?
There is nothing under the Fair Housing Act that requires your cat to be declawed. That would be an unusual request from a landlord as it pertains to an ESA. If your landlord is worried about damage your ESA may cause, they should be aware that the tenant is always responsible for any damage caused by an ESA.
Can emotional support cats come to school with me??
Emotional support animals have rights to be in your home pursuant to the Fair Housing Act and on flights pursuant to the Air Carrier Access Act. They do not however have the right to be in other public places, such as schools.
My girlfriend and I are breaking up and our cat is my esa and I have a letter from my therapist recommending I should have an esa, I did not purchase the cat though and everything is in her name. I have a strong bond with the cat, do I have any rights to keep the cat?
Unfortunately, ownership rights regarding the cat is not something we are able to advise on.