Cat as an Emotional Support Animal | Emotional Support Cat

Emotional Support Cat

An emotional support cat (ESA cat) is a domesticated pet that helps provide companionship to patients suffering from mental health problems. Any cat can be an ESA cat provided the patient has a qualifying condition and an emotional support cat letter from a licensed mental health professional.

The presence of an emotional support cat is as comforting as the presence of any close friend. This is why having an emotional cat for support and comfort can be the solution for those in emotional distress.

Getting an emotional support animal cat has benefits that can help a patient with a mental disability manage their condition in a better and effective manner. You can get one without going through the hassle of long queues and appointments. Qualify for your emotional support cat with just a click.

Get Online Consultation for ESA Cat Certification

To get an ESA cat certification you have to sign up with us online. Just visit our website, fill the form and complete your evaluation through our HIPAA-compliant telemedicine platform. That’s all you need to get your emotional support cat letter in your email on the same day.

FILL A PRE-QUALIFICATION FORM

Sign up and fill the questionnaire to pre-qualify for an emotional support cat letter. Be as detailed as you can be. Everything is HIPAA-compliant. All your information is safe and inaccessible to any third party.

TALK TO A MEDICAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL

After submission, your form will be under review by our team to connect you with the right mental health professional. Complete your online evaluation via video call and answer all questions transparently. Make the most of your consultation and clear all your queries about having an emotional support cat.

RECEIVE RECOMMENDATION

After careful examination, the doctor will determine whether you qualify for an emotional support cat letter or not. If you do, you will receive your letter in your email on the same day. If you don’t qualify, we will give you a 100% refund.

Can Cats be Emotional Support Animals?

Yes, cats can be emotional support animals. For your pet to be an emotional support cat, a licensed mental health professional must write a letter stating the need for an ESA cat to provide companionship and assistance.

They are capable of providing support and helping their owner have better mental health. It is a scientifically proven fact that conditions like depression, stress, anxiety, and PTSD can be effectively managed with the inclusion of an Emotional Support Cat.

Cats are great animals. They have the ability to sleep all day without a care in the world and then love or ignore you at will. They might not be the best at listening to commands like dogs but when you are lonely, they will provide you with just as much warmth and love. They are a great source of comfort and support that will help create a big change in your life.

Their presence is just as therapeutic as the presence of a loved one by your side. So, an emotional support cat might just be the answer to all your problems.

In addition to having therapeutic benefits, an emotional support cat is a great choice for the following reasons:

Can a Cat be an Emotional Support Animal?

Low Maintenance

Cats by their very nature are independent creatures. They require a lot less time and attention. This is a great thing if you are not used to taking care of a pet. They are self-sufficient and don’t mind their own company.

Great Travel Partners

They are a lot easier to carry around in comparison to dogs. A cat’s carrier can easily fit under the seat. So, it is much easier to travel with a cat, provided, of course, you pay the pet fee and abide by the airline regulations.

Great For Rented Accommodations

Regular pets are usually not permitted by landlords in rented accommodations. However, under the Fair Housing Act, you can live with your emotional support cat. They are pretty clean and are generally better to have in your home.

What Are the Best Emotional Support Cat Breeds?

Now that you know cats can be great companions, you must take some time to find a emotional support cat breed that will be best for you. Because while cats are cuddly and playful, not all types are ideal for being an emotional support cat or for living in rental places.

Here’s a list of the best emotional support cat breeds:

Ragdoll
Siamese
Russian Blue
Persian
Maine Coon
Mixed
American Bobtail
American Shorthair

NOTE: This is not a definitive list of the best emotional support cat breeds. It’s meant for the purpose of giving a general idea to first time emotional support cat owners.

What Are The Best Emotional Support Cat Breeds?

What Do You Need to Get an Emotional Support Cat Letter?

To get an emotional support cat letter you need a qualifying condition and approval from a therapist or a mental health professional to include your pet (ESA cat) in the existing treatment plan.

Everyone is not qualified to have an emotional support cat. It requires a proper consultation with a licensed mental health professional and a careful examination by them to determine if you fulfill all the requirements to be eligible for getting a letter for having an emotional support animal cat.

Here's what you need to get an emotional support cat letter:

If you have a severe mental health disability according to the Americans With Disabilities Act or the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM5).
You have been receiving proper treatment for your condition for a long time.
Your emotional support cat fits the size requirements and the breed is not aggressive.

The Diagnostic Statistical Manual For Mental Disorders or DSM5 states a list of mental and psychiatric conditions that will decide the eligibility of a patient to get an emotional support cat letter. Some of these categories are broadly classified as follows:

What are the Requirements to Get an Emotional Support Cat Letter?

PTSD
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Schizophrenia
Gender Dysphoria
Eating Disorders
ADHD
Mild Neurocognitive Disorder
Sleep-Wake Disorder
Intellectual Disability
Learning Disorders
OCD
Personality Disorder
Conduct Disorder
Major Depressive Disorder
Social Communication Disorder
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
Substance Use Disorders

In the end, it is upon the discretion of the mental health professional to decide whether you need an emotional support cat or not.

If you are not sure whether you are qualified to have an emotional support cat letter, you can always apply for a consultation at My ESA Doctor. Our doctors can guide you with the requirements for having an emotional support cat and give you a letter if you qualify. And don’t worry if you fail to qualify. We will not charge you anything and give you a 100% refund.

Who Can Write an Emotional Support Cat Letter?

Only a licensed mental health professional (LMHP) is authorized to write an emotional support cat letter. This includes psychiatrists, therapists, psychologists, clinical social workers, general and primary physicians. No assistance therapist, nurse or non-practicing doctor can write an emotional support cat letter for you.

It is crucial for your mental health professional to be licensed. The use of Emotional support animals is regulated by many state and federal laws. As per the legal regulations, authorities are required to accept an emotional support cat letter only if it is written by a licensed professional.

To make sure that your LMHP is duly qualified to write you an ESA letter, you can cross-check the license number of your LMHP on the official state government website. In addition to this, remember that your ESA cat letter must be recommended by the following types of licensed physicians or doctors:

Clinical Psychologist (Ph.D. or PsyD)
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

If you visit legit online ESA clinics, you won’t have to worry about the legitimacy of your doctor. At My ESA Doctor, you can rest assured as all doctors are state-licensed and board-certified. We maintain transparency so you have the liberty to verify the legitimacy of our doctors online.

After you fill the pre-qualification form, our team works together to connect you with a mental health professional suited for your condition. This way, you only get the right and effective treatment from the comfort of your home.

How to Register a cat as an Emotional Support Animal?

You don't have to resgiter a cat as an emotional support animal. Every state only accepts legit emotional support cat letters. If you have received your letter from illegitimate or unverified sources, you will not be able to experience the benefits that come with having a certified emotional support cat letter.

To avoid having trouble with your letter and to save money, it’s crucial that you verify the legitimacy of your mental health physician or online clinic.

Here’s how you can ensure that you get a legit emotional support cat letter.

Verify the license of your ESA doctor.
Make sure your online clinic is HIPAA compliant.
The online clinic should have a real location.
The letter should be written on the doctor’s or clinic’s letterhead and should have all the key elements of a legit emotional support cat letter.
BBB ratings.

How to Get a Legit Emotional Support Cat Registration?

As an aware consumer, you must be acquainted with what an ESA letter looks like. You can always ask for a sample emotional support cat letter and look for the following features:

Date of issuance.
Expiry date of the letter.
Name and signature of the doctor.
Letterhead of the doctor or clinic.
Verified address of the doctor or clinic.
Details of the patient.
Details about the medical condition of the patient and how an emotional support cat can help.
License number of the doctor.

While you search for key elements of a legit cat letter, it’s equally important to steer clear from services that claim any of the following:

Dirt Cheap Prices: Cheap deals are not always a sign of legitimacy.

Instant Approvals: A LMHP needs time to evaluate your medical condition according to the state and federal laws. The process takes time. Instant approvals are nothing but a hoax.

Free Emotional Support Cat Letter: You can get a free cat letter only from a doctor who has been carrying out your treatment for a long time. No online clinic or doctor can give you a free consultation or letter without prior knowledge of your condition.

Asking for Registration: The federal law doesn’t ask you to get your cat registered on any registry. All you need is a legit emotional support cat letter from an LMHP.

How to Get an Emotional Support Cat Letter For Housing?

The law gives you the liberty to live with your cat in any rental property without restrictions or pet deposits. All you need is an emotional support cat letter for housing from a licensed physician or mental health professional.

Here's how to get an emotional support cat letter for housing:

Step 1: Register on the website.
Step 2: Have a face to face video consultation with a licensed mental health physician.
Step 3: If qualified, get your emotional support cat letter in your email. If not, receive a 100% refund.

You will also get a hard copy of the letter delivered to your address.

As per the Federal Fair Housing Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, no landlord, school or college authorities can discriminate against a person with a disability. This provision includes a person with an emotional support cat. So, whether it is a no-pet policy rental property or a dorm, you can live with your pet legally. In addition to this, you are exempted from paying any pet deposits or fees.

In rental properties, a landlord cannot ask you for extra paperwork or proof. All you need is a legit emotional support cat letter that is not older than 365 days.

However, a landlord can legally refuse to rent you accommodation on the following grounds:

Your emotional support cat letter is not updated.
Your cat is causing financial harm to the landlord.
The pet is risking the safety of the tenants and people around your property.
If the property is smaller than 4 units and the landlord occupies one of them.
If you do not fulfill the rules and requirements of the owner (same for every tenant).

NOTE: While you can use your Emotional support cat letter to live with your cat or take it to your workplace, schools or dorms, the letter does not have any provisions for taking your cat to public places such as restaurants, cafes, trains etc.

Can You Get an Emotional Support Cat Letter For Flying?

Keeping the new guidelines issued by the DOT in mind, we no longer provide emotional support cat letter. As of 2nd December 2020, the federal government does not allow airlines to accommodate ESAs for free. The law will be in effect from 31st January 2021.

Considering the rising cases of misuse of emotional support animals, the federal government decided to ban ESAs from airplanes and consider them as pets. As per the changed rules of the Air Carrier Access Act, the airlines are left with no obligation to allow emotional support animals on the plane without any pet fees. They can even ask the owners to get their cats in a carrier and put them in the cargo for safety reasons. Starting from January 2021, irrespective of your ESA cat certification, you can be asked by airlines to pay an extra fee for your pet or keep them in the cargo.

To avoid any hassle, we recommend you to connect with the airlines at least 48 hours before your flight. It will let you know their stance on emotional support cats and pet fees.

The law is in effect. So, make sure that you keep the new guidelines in mind before applying for an ESA letter for flying.

Can You Get an Emotional Support Cat Letter For Flying?

Is Emotional Support Cat Training Important?

The federal law does not require an emotional support animal to be trained. However, there’s no denying that emotional support cat training is important . A well-behaved cat is easier to handle and less of a nuisance for others around.

An emotional support cat is meant for the mental health of the owner. But, this does not mean that it can be aggressive or cause discomfort to those around. The safety and comfort of people around are important. This can be ensured by training your cat.

It is a common misconception that cats cannot be trained. While it is true that they are not inherently inclined to coordinate with humans, they can be trained for some basic behaviors. You can use professional tips to teach them to be calm in carriers while traveling or in a public place, how to interact with others and litter training. It will make your life easier with an emotional support cat.

Get an Emotional Support Cat For Better Health