Cats are great companions that can provide a lot of emotional support. Having a cat snuggle up with you is proven to reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and even loneliness. Therefore, having a cat companion can be a great way to treat the symptoms of some mental health disabilities.
That said, some apartments may not be pet-friendly, and you might be worried about being able to live in housing without your cat being a service animal. So, can cats be service animals? The short answer is no, but that doesn't mean you’re out of options. Read on to learn more.
Service animals are dogs or miniature horses that are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These animals help people who have physical or mental health disabilities with specific tasks. For example, service dogs can be trained to pull a wheelchair, open doors, or fetch medications at the appropriate time.
State and federal governments are serious about regulating service animals, so you'll find that they're strict about what animals can and can't be service animals.
Unfortunately, cats do not qualify as service animals. Instead, they can only be emotional support animals (ESAs) or sometimes therapy animals. Service animals can only be dogs and miniature horses and they must go through specific training to qualify.
Your cat can't become a service animal but that doesn't mean you don't have options. You can still register your cat as a therapy animal or emotional support animal (ESA) depending on your needs and the amount of people the cat will care for. Learn more about your options below.
Your cat can't be a service animal but they can still provide emotional support as an emotional support cat. Emotional support cats provide comfort and support for their caretakers and are proven to reduce anxiety, depression, and loneliness.
Registering your cat as an emotional support cat can also help you keep them with you in otherwise not pet-friendly housing. This is because having your cat as an emotional support animal is a great way to receive protection from the Fair Housing Act (FHA), which ensures that landlords don't discriminate against people who have mental health disabilities.
That said, emotional support cats will only have these protections since they're not protected by the ADA or the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA).
Emotional support cats are great but only for one or maybe two caretakers. Therapy cats, on the other hand, tend to have some level of training and socialization to help care for groups of people. You'll typically find therapy cats in places like funeral homes, nursing homes, schools, and other places where people can use support.
Unlike emotional support cats, therapy cats are usually assigned to a specific location or groups of people, so they may not be feasible based on your needs.
When it's time to make your cat into an emotional support animal you need to complete the registration process. This can be done online through providers like US Service Animals but you can also work alongside a licensed mental health professional if you have one already.
To register your ESA, you'll need to provide information about yourself and the pet you’re registering. Then, you can schedule a call or appointment with a licensed mental health professional to determine if you qualify for an ESA letter. This letter is what you need for housing purposes and it must include your information, the cat's information, a signature from the licensed mental health professional, and their medical license.
Once you have this letter in your possession, your cat is officially an emotional support animal.
While your cat can't be a service animal, that doesn't mean you're out of options. You can always register your cat as an emotional support animal and receive an ESA letter that allows you to live in otherwise not pet-friendly housing. All you need to qualify is your cat and an evaluation from a licensed mental health professional.
While ESAs may not have the same protections as service animals, you'll find that there are still plenty of opportunities to have them with you. Many pet-friendly hotels accept ESA cats and some airlines will let you travel with them. Plus, many public places are accommodating if you call ahead.
