Emotional support cats are wonderful companions, and these animals can greatly help individuals deal with certain negative feelings and mental health conditions. If you are considering adding an emotional support cat to your treatment plan, it’s important to understand how these felines can help and what your specific ESA rights might be. Below, we discuss what to know about emotional support cats and how to add one to your life.
What Is an Emotional Support Animal?
An emotional support animal (ESA) is any animal that provides their owner with comfort, relief, support, and assistance in dealing with symptoms of a mental health condition. Emotional support animals do not have to be trained, but they must be well-behaved and not dangerous to others.
The biggest benefit of having a valid emotional support animal is being able to live alongside your companion animal in any reasonable area of housing without adhering to pet or breed restrictions, and without having to pay pet fees or pet rent. These exemptions help individuals live alongside their ESAs without being forced to pay more or search for pet-friendly housing that may cause further living issues.
Are Emotional Support Animals the Same as Service Animals?
Emotional support animals are not the same as service animals. ESAs are not required to be trained, and they can technically be any type of animal, though dogs and cats are the most popular. You can have an emotional support snake, rabbit, bird, or fish – any animal that is legal to own in your state and approved by your mental healthcare provider can be your ESA.
On the other hand, service animals must be dogs or, sometimes, miniature horses. Your service animal must be trained to help with disability-related tasks, and they are granted much more wide-reaching public and private access rights as a result.
In general, emotional support animals are only granted housing rights under the federal Fair Housing Act. It’s important to discuss ESAs and service animals with your therapist to see which animal companion can help you the most..
Can Cats Be Emotional Support Animals?
Cats can easily be emotional support animals, and there are many benefits to adding a cat to your treatment plan. These fuzzy friends are known to form strong bonds with their owners, providing companionship and comfort, in addition to cuddles and lots of silly antics. Cats are one of the most popular choices for ESAs, alongside dogs, and they have relatively easy care needs.
You can also expect your cat to be one of the lower-cost animals to take care of. These animals are easily adopted, and they can become loving lifelong companions, making them a great emotional support animal choice.
Emotional Support Cats: What to Know
Emotional support cats can be a mysterious topic for some, as cats have a reputation for being aloof and not very comforting. However, emotional support cats can be wonderful companions, and cats have been shown to have a remarkable amount of emotional intelligence when it comes to their humans.
Emotional support cats may help with the management of certain mental health conditions in the following ways:
- Providing a routine, inspiring the owner to keep a regular schedule. This is something that greatly helps with dealing with negative emotions.
- Providing comfort and cuddles when the owner is in need.
- Acting as a reliable companion whenever the owner is home, helping to mitigate negative feelings and loneliness.
- Offering fun, playtime, and other positive experiences to help the owner focus on something fulfilling and enjoyable.
Cats are also quite low-maintenance, something that can be great for individuals who may be differently-abled, senior citizens, and other individuals who are not enthusiastic about walking a dog every day, but who want a faithful companion.
If you want to ensure that your cat is a verified and valid emotional support animal, you will need to speak to a mental healthcare provider licensed in your state. Only your provider can evaluate your condition and discuss your treatment plan needs with you.
Once you have been approved for an emotional support cat, your therapist will provide you with a letter stating this need. You must have your ESA letter on hand, as this is the documentation that allows you to take advantage of federally protected housing rights.
How Many Emotional Support Cats Can I Have?
There is technically no limit to the number of emotional support cats you may have in your care. The only limit is discussed between you and your mental healthcare provider, as every emotional support cat you have must serve a distinctive role in your treatment plan, and they must have a separate ESA letter attesting to their need.
You should also note that you must be able to physically and financially provide for all of your emotional support cats, and your housing accommodations must be reasonable. For example, you can have two emotional support cats in a larger apartment, but you could not have multiple cats in a very small studio, as your landlord can argue that it is unreasonable.
Will My Emotional Support Cat Ever Be Denied Accommodations?
Your emotional support cat might potentially be denied accommodations legally if they are overly aggressive or destructive. In general, cats are not known for being highly dangerous animals, but some cats can develop behavioral issues and struggle with aggression.
A landlord is unlikely to approve your ESA if they are acting aggressively towards other tenants, and the landlord is within their legal rights to deny your emotional support cat if they threaten the health and safety of others.
Additionally, owner-occupied housing with four or fewer units for rent is exempt from the regulations in the Fair Housing Act (FHA). This means a landlord is well within their legal rights to deny your ESA accommodations, even if your emotional support cat is the most well-behaved cat around.
It’s important to understand the FHA clearly to know what your emotional support cat accommodation rights are.
Do I Need to Register My Emotional Support Cat?
You do not need to register your emotional support cat, though many individuals choose to register their companion animals for extra peace of mind.
When you register your emotional support cat, you have an easy source of information about your animal, and you can keep this information on hand in case your animal gets lost or if you need to provide quick details about your ESA.
However, this is not regulated, and anyone asking for an ESA registration before they approve your accommodations is violating the law in doing so. The only documentation you are required to have to ensure your emotional support cat is valid is an ESA letter written by your therapist or other mental healthcare provider.
Can I Have an Emotional Support Cat and a Service Animal?
It is possible to have both an emotional support cat and a service animal at the same time. These companion animals serve different purposes, and, depending on your treatment needs, you might need to have both to receive all of the care and support that makes you feel better.
It’s important to note that you will need to obtain both of your companion animals through the proper procedures and ensure you stick to state and federal laws. For example, if you have a service animal, that does not also entitle you to an emotional support cat. You will need to make sure your ESA is valid to ensure that they can benefit from federal and state-level protections.
Receiving the Support You Need
Emotional support cats are a great way to receive the mental health support you need and to enhance your treatment plan. It’s essential to speak to your mental health provider to make sure this approach is right for you, and once your emotional support cat is approved, you can start to think about your options, such as adopting or buying a cat.