Registering your cat as an emotional support animal (ESA) can be done with a valid ESA letter. You will need to speak to your therapist, or another mental healthcare provider licensed in your state, if you wish to add an emotional support animal into your treatment plan. Below, we tell you more about cat ESAs and the process for registering them.
Are Cats Good Emotional Support Animals?
Cats are wonderful emotional support animals, despite their reputation for being independent creatures. Most cats form very strong bonds with their owners, and they are quite empathetic. This means that they will pick up on their owner’s feelings and attempt to comfort them. Caring for a cat can bring a sense of routine for owners, as regular playtime, supervised outdoor time with harnesses and leashes, and cuddle time provide plenty of positive emotions and fun situations.
Who Qualifies For An ESA?
Individuals who qualify for ESAs are those with mental health conditions or disabilities who believe they would benefit from the comfort, support, and routine that caring for a cat provides. While any condition or disability could benefit from the presence of an ESA, the most common conditions that ESAs are prescribed to help with include anxiety, depression, chronic stress, and PTSD.
How Do I Get My Cat Registered As An Emotional Support Animal: Your Rights
Emotional support animals have different rights than service animals, with the main protected right for ESAs being the ability to live with their owners in any type of housing. The federal Fair Housing Act ensures that landlords cannot discriminate against owners who need ESAs, and when you have a valid ESA letter, you can request accommodations.
ESA accommodations allow you to bring your cat to live with you in any area of housing, even ones that have pet restrictions or breed restrictions. You are also not obligated to pay pet rent, pet fees, and pet security deposits once you have a valid ESA.
Getting Your Cat Registered As An Emotional Support Animal
Getting your cat registered as an emotional support animal doesn’t need to be as complicated as you might think. To start with, you will need to speak to your mental healthcare provider about your concerns and desire for an ESA; your provider is the only person who can verify your need for an ESA and provide you with the proper documentation to ensure your ESA is valid.
During your appointment, your provider may take the time to provide you with a diagnosis for a mental health condition, and they are likely to evaluate your suitability when it comes to physically, mentally, and financially caring for an animal. It may take multiple appointments to approve you for an ESA, and some states may require that you have at least a 30-day relationship with your provider before you are eligible to receive an ESA letter.
Upon being approved for an ESA, your provider will write a letter stating your needs and detailing their professional qualifications. This document serves as your ESA registration, and it is the only document you need if you wish to request housing accommodations to ensure your cat ESA can live with you, no matter where you are.
Can A Landlord Deny My ESA Accommodations?
It is possible for your landlord to legally deny your ESA accommodations. If your emotional support animal is destructive, dangerous, or aggressive, your landlord can treat them like a regular pet or even evict you over the trouble your animal is causing. That being said, cats are generally very calm and unobtrusive, and it is unlikely your cat will be dangerous or destructive enough to be denied accommodations.
Keep in mind that if your cat ESA does cause damage to property, you will be liable for the cost of these damages.
How Do I Get My Cat Registered As An Emotional Support Animal: Next Steps
Making sure your feline emotional support animal is properly registered is key to ensuring that you can take advantage of the housing protections granted in the federal Fair Housing Act. Without a valid and registered emotional support animal, your cat will be treated like a regular pet and subject to any rules or regulations your housing has in place for cats.
If you want to take steps to register your ESA, make sure to speak with a licensed mental healthcare provider as soon as possible to understand which steps you need to take to receive a valid ESA letter for your feline companion.