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Emotional Support Cat
Can Cats be Emotional Support Animals?
Cats make wonderful pets. But did you know they can also provide those with emotional challenges the added support they need to live a full life?
In this article, we will explore the following:
- What is an emotional support cat?
- The ESA certification and registration process
- Types of animals that can be service animals and emotional support animals
- What an ESA letter is and why it’s necessary
- What the laws have to say about having more than one emotional support cat
1. Emotional Support Cat Provides Comfort
An emotional support animal can be of any species, including cats. An emotional support animal or ESA does not require any special training. An ESA is there to provide a person with an emotional or mental disability the support they need to live a normal or better life.
Cats can be beneficial as an emotional support animal as some breeds of felines are very human orientated. This means they love to spend time with their human companion. Some of these cat breeds include the Persian, the Ragdoll, the Abyssinian, the Burmese, the Maine Coon and the Exotic Shorthair. However, that doesn’t mean a mixed breed feline (Moggy) cannot be just as loyal and dedicated to their human.
2. Legitimate Emotional Support Cat Registration
Although it is not required by law to register your feline as an ESA, some people choose to do so for its many benefits. These include having access to custom ID cards, certificates and even vests to identify the cat as an ESA. If you already have an ESA letter for your Emotional Support Animal, you may register your cat here.
Can a Cat Be a Service Animal?
Unfortunately, no. The job of a service animal falls to canine species and miniature horses. These animals need to be specifically trained to do a task for a disabled individual. This can include picking up dropped items, opening doors or alerting the person to a drop in their blood sugar or of an oncoming seizure. Even though cats can be highly intelligent and trainable, the depth of training needed for a service animal is usually beyond the scope of the feline species. Most importantly, even if you trained your cat to perform services for you, they will not be protected under the ADA.
However, you still have rights under Federal Law with your emotional support cat. Landlords must reasonably accommodate your ESA, even if they have a “no pets” policy. The landlord cannot charge you extra for your ESA, but your cat must be well behaved and not pose a health or safety issue to other tenants.
3. Emotional Support Cat Certification
All that is needed to make your cat a legitimate emotional support animal is a letter from a therapist or mental health professional. In order for an ESA letter to be accepted by “no pets” housing, the letter must be written and signed by a licensed healthcare professional. The ESA letter must also be written on the therapist’s own letterhead, with his/her license number and the place/date it was issued. In addition, the ESA letter must have been issued within one year of the time of submission.
If you do not have access to a therapist in your own area or they do not understand the benefits of animal therapy, you may seek support from a legitimate online resource. We have a helpful post on getting your ESA letter online here.
4. How Many Emotional Support Cats Can I Have?
Under the Fair Housing Amendments Act (FHAA) people with diagnosed mental or emotional disabilities are allowed to have an ESA. Landlords and/or building managers must make allowances for ESA’s in “no pets” policies buildings, but this could be nullified if there were too many animals (cats) to keep the residence safe for both tenants and animals. Since the FHA does not specify how many ESA a person can have, as long as the number is reasonable to your therapist, you can have more than one.
5. Emotional Support Cats Can Work, Too
If you are suffering from an emotional or mental disability, then an emotional support cat may be “just what the doctor ordered.” Cats can make loving, dedicated and supportive ESA’s that can help you get on with the rest of your life. Check with your therapist or mental health professional to see if you qualify for an emotional support cat. You may also seek support from an ESA letter referral service.
About the Author: The writing team at Service Dog Certifications is made up of folks who really know their stuff when it comes to disability laws and assistance animals. Many of our writers and editors have service dogs themselves and share insights from their own experiences. All of us have a passion for disability rights and animals.
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Hello, I want to know if is any place in Michigan to training my cat as emotional support cat
Emotional support animals do not need any specific training. Their presence alone would provide the comfort and support needed. You do, however, need an ESA letter issued by a medical professional licensed in your state of residence that states that you benefit from an emotional support cat. You may find this article on how to get an emotional support animal letter interesting: https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-get-an-emotional-support-dog-letter/
My cat named Rocky was a barn baby. He is an orange tabby with a beautiful personality. He luvs baby’s children and seniors as my parents are 84 and 79. I would luv to share him with people as he is leash trained.
Is there a way to find out if a cat is a true ESA if a person cannot find their paperwork?
There is no ESA registry to look up the animals. The owner of the ESA should be able to connect with the doctor or therapist who issued their letter and get a copy.
I have a. Cat for depression and Panic attacks. Please tell me how to register her. My Dr wrote a note to apartment complex. I want to move plus fly and my cat (grace) I want to go. Getting ready take her to Vet. She is up to date on her shots. I want to no if she is a service cat or a theropy cat and do I need put her in class. Like to have vest to show what kind of cat she is. She has really help me allot. Thanks for your help. She is a inside cat unless she goes to Vet. I am sick and on oxygen so we don’t walk around out side. Thank you for your help
The article answers all of your questions
Hi, I hope all is well. I know you wrote this awhile ago but I wanted to answer your questions:
– There is no “official” registration hub for an emotional support animal. While having support from third-party organizations provides some relief for the owners in that they have more legitimacy in the form of a certificate, you are not obligated to have anything except the letter from whoever is overseeing your healthcare (especially a mental health worker). The letter is crucial and I believe it should name your conditions, how they impact your everyday life, and how the ESA helps diminish that negative impact. The note that your doctor wrote sounds like it’s in the right direction, and you’ll probably want to send something similar to your new apartment complex.
– As for what to call her, she is not a “service cat”. This is a title reserved for animals that go through extensive training; in other words, the more conventional idea of a service dog being a seeing eye dog for someone who is blind or a medical alert dog before narcoleptic or anxiety attacks. Also, personally, I wouldn’t call her a “therapy cat”. To me at least, this implies training and that she can benefit the people around you. While she can benefit you and the household, the idea of a “therapy cat” implies that she can give these feelings to anyone and that she has trainings to do so. In your case, the proper term would be “emotional support animal”, abbreviated as ESA, or “emotional support cat”.
– While the basics of training are expected in public places (don’t attack anyone, don’t be a disturbance, the most basic things for a pet owner to teach), you do not have to take your cat to any additional trainings. You also don’t have to have her in a vest. When you register for your ESA to live with you, you are providing confidential information about your mental/physical health and treatment. She is protected because of these things. However, you do not have to advertise it. No need for you to tell everyone if you don’t want to, and no one will be able to give you a hard time about your cat’s presence because she is an approved animal. This is especially the case as she is an indoor cat, the only time people would be seeing her is if she’s going to the vet, and you aren’t obligated to explain yourself to the people you pass in the hall! If you wanted to get her a vest so people would not approach her, you would have to get some measurements of her and get a vest with the “emotional support animal” or “ESA” Velcro patches.
I hope you are doing well. I know your comment was awhile old but I hoped my answers can help you or whoever else is reading. I just wanted to add that my experience is: – double major in Psychology and Neuroscience – very experienced with residential life at universities and schools – have my own ESA who has lived with me in many situations
My experience has been that my neighbour who qualified for a ESA because of his mental health was not a good pet owner… probably because of his mental health..