An emotional support cat is any cat that provides comfort and companionship to a person with a mental or emotional disability. The purpose of emotional support cats is to help their owners alleviate symptoms of their conditions and aiding them in their everyday living.
An emotional support cat does not need special training, registration or certification to legally qualify it, the only valid document that recognize it as an emotional support animal is a compliant ESA letter to written by an authorized licensed medical professional. Ragdolls, Maine Coons, Siamese, Manx, Bengals, Russian Blue, and Balineses are some of the top breeds for emotional support cats. Each breed is uniquely adept at benefiting people with specific mental issues.
What Disabilities Qualify for an ESA Cat?
An emotional support cat provides comfort and companionship to people with mental or emotional health challenges. The conditions that qualify for an ESA cat are listed below:
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Postpartum Depression
- Depression
- Phobias and Fears
- General Anxiety Disorder
- Panic Disorder
- Bipolar Disorder
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Seasonal Affective Disorder
What are the Benefits of Having an Emotional Support Cat?
The benefits of having an emotional support cat are listed below.
- Stress or Anxiety Relief: ESA cats encourage owners to shift focus from the source of their anxiety to taking care of them and engaging in positive interactions.
- Depression Management: Emotional support animals have the unique ability to boost mood and reduce depressive feelings. ESA cats promote relaxation.
- Improved Sleep Quality: The reduced anxiety positively affects sleep quality. ESA cats help owners go to sleep faster and wake up less during the night.
- Reduced Loneliness: Emotional support cats alleviate loneliness and isolation. The constant companionship minimizes the negative effects of spending time alone, with the added benefit of still having a generally independent animal that respects personal boundaries.
- Better Physical Health: Cat interactions help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart conditions. Studies indicate that the frequency emitted by cats purring have positive effects on the human body, including general cardio-vascular benefits, reducing stress, and even help with healing. Daily on-leash walks with the ESA promote physical activity.
How to Get an Emotional Support Cat
Obtaining an emotional support cat requires proper documentation from a licensed mental health professional. Follow these three straightforward steps:
1. Determine Your ESA Eligibility
Assess whether you have a qualifying mental or emotional condition that would benefit from an emotional support cat. Conditions like anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other emotional or psychiatric disabilities may qualify you for ESA accommodation.
2. Complete an Evaluation with a Licensed Mental Health Professional
Schedule an assessment with a state-licensed mental health professional (LMHP) such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, therapist, or licensed counselor. This evaluation can be conducted in-person or through HIPAA-compliant tele-health services, making the process convenient and accessible.
3. Receive Your Official ESA Letter
If approved, your LMHP will issue an official ESA letter that identifies your cat as a vital component of your treatment plan. This letter serves as your legal documentation for housing accommodations and must be signed by the licensed professional who evaluated you.
Legal Protections and Rights for ESA Cats
Housing Rights Under the Fair Housing Act
Legal Protection for You and Your ESA Cat
An ESA letter provides federal legal protection under the Fair Housing Act, allowing you and your emotional support cat to live together even in properties with “no pets” policies. Landlords are required by law to provide reasonable accommodation for assistance animals, including emotional support cats with valid ESA letters.
Exemption from Pet Fees and Deposits
With a legitimate ESA letter, you are exempt from standard pet-related expenses such as pet rent, pet deposits, and pet fees. Your emotional support cat is recognized as an assistance animal, not a pet, under fair housing regulations.
Air Travel Restrictions for ESA Cats
Changes to the Air Carrier Access Act
As of 2021, the Department of Transportation revised the Air Carrier Access Act, removing emotional support animals from the category of service animals for air travel. This means emotional support cats are no longer entitled to fly free of charge in aircraft cabins. Airlines now treat ESAs as pets, which requires you to pay standard pet fees and comply with carrier-specific pet policies.
Public Access Rights: What ESA Cats Cannot Do
No Public Access Privileges
Emotional support cats do not have public access rights. This means your ESA cat is not legally permitted to accompany you into restaurants, stores, hotels, or other public establishments. ESA protections apply exclusively to housing under the Fair Housing Act, and do not extend to public spaces where pets are typically prohibited. Businesses that already implement pet-friendly policies can allow emotional support cats at their discretion.
How to Get an Emotional Support Cat with CertaPet’s 5-minute Process
If you don’t have a regular doctor or have time to travel far to get to a nearest mental health professional, these obstacles might stand in the way of getting an emotional support animal. Online services such as CertaPet make obtaining valid ESA documentation easier than ever. CertaPet is a tele-health platform that helps you get connected to a licensed mental health professional in your state today so you can get your compliant ESA letters in a fast, secure way.
How to Register My Emotional Support Cat
Actually, you don’t “register” your cat anywhere! If you see a site promoting a “service cat registry” or similar idea–run away as fast as possible.
Not only is service cat registration a scam, but the sites are spreading misinformation.
The only requirement to have your cat attributed as an emotional support animal is to have a written letter from a licensed mental health professional, often called an “emotional support animal letter”.
This is contrary to what you might read on websites that ask you to pay to register your cat as an emotional support animal, but it is true. As we’ve covered many times, there is no legal requirement for Emotional Support Animals to be registered.
Online ‘registers’ offering registration services (often bundled with fancy certificates/ID tags, etc) are simply trying to make some money off of people’s lack of knowledge about ESAs. The ESA letter written by an LMHP is everything you need.
And when you get a fake ESA letter, you reap the consequences.
Can a Cat be a Service Animal?
We often get asked, “Can a cat be a Service Animal?”.
The short answer: Cats CANNOT be service animals. Cats CAN be emotional support animals.
According to the American Disability Act (ADA), “Service Animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.” There is a special provision written in for miniature horses, but nothing that mentions specifically service cats.
However, as mentioned above, cats can certainly qualify as emotional support animals (with a letter prescribed from a licensed clinician), and there is no training and requirements for your furry companion animal.
What are the Different Breeds of Cats for Emotional Support?
The different breeds of cats for emotional support are listed below.
- Ragdoll: The Ragdoll is a highly people-oriented feline that loves to cuddle, hence its nickname “puppy cat.” Breed members are easygoing, calm, independent, and tolerant. The breed’s average lifespan is 15 years. Ragdolls are the perfect ESA cats for children with emotional issues, including ADHD and anxiety.
- Maine Coon: The Maine Coon is the largest domestic breed best known for its lustrous mane. Popularly known as the “gentle giant,” this cat is very kind and affectionate. Maine Coons live around 12 to 15 years and need moderate grooming to maintain their long and fluffy coats. The breed is best suited for people with general anxiety.
- Siamese: The Siamese is an outgoing and vocal cat with a borderline clingy nature. The short, silver-grey coat and blue eyes are the breed’s hallmarks. Breed members are very long-lived, with an average lifespan of 15 to 20 years. The Siamese, with its cuddly personality, is the right ESA cat for lonely people in need of physical affection.
- Manx: The Manx is gentle, playful, and vocal. It is a fiercely loyal breed often described as a one-person cat since it forms strong bonds with one human family member. Manx cats have an average lifespan of 9 to 14 years. The Manx is a fantastic fit for people in need of constant companionship.
- Bengal: The Bengal is an intelligent, affectionate, and inquisitive cat with a spotted coat pattern. Known as the “adventurous explorer,” the Bengal enjoys outdoor leash-walking. Breed members live between 10 and 16 years. Bengals are recommended for people with social anxiety because of its unusual fondness for taking walks and being outside.
- Russian Blue: The Russian Blue is a quiet, loyal, and smart breed that keeps its even temper even in emergencies. The main physical feature of the cat is its gray-to-bluish, low-shedding, hypoallergenic coat. The breed’s lifespan is 15 to 20 years. The Russian Blue is the ESA cat breed of choice for people struggling with depression.
- Balinese: The Balinese is an incredibly social, playful, and talkative cat. The long-haired coat and sapphire blue eyes are key traits of the Balinese cat. The breed is famous for its longevity because it lives between 16 and 21 years. The Balinese’s hypoallergenic coat makes it suitable for emotionally challenged people with cat allergies.
The best ESA cat for children is the Ragdoll. The breed is affectionate, friendly, and playful but has a generally well-mannered and laid-back personality. Ragdolls tolerate kids surprisingly well and make excellent ESAs.
Can Any Cat be an Emotional Support Animal?
Yes, any cat can be an emotional support animal. The ESA qualification rules for cats do not discriminate based on age, sex, breed, or previous training.
The cat’s temperament and the ESA letter are two conditions necessary for cats to be recognized emotional support animals.
Temperament determines whether the cat makes a good ESA because not all cats are happy being emotional support animals. For example, a cat that dislikes going out is unable to comfort the owner during traveling as it feels unsafe on its own.
Can you Adopt a Cat for Emotional Support?
Yes, you can adopt a cat for emotional support. ESAs do not have to meet specific background requirements or need special training. Every cat has the potential to be an ESA.
Approximately 3.2 million cats enter animal shelters annually in the United States, according to The American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Adopting ESA cats is humane, but keep in mind that former feral cats sometimes have trouble adjusting. Careful temperament evaluation is necessary to ensure an adopted cat has an ESA potential.
Adopted cats act as emotional support animals as long as they comfort their owners and have an ESA letter to prove their status.
What is an emotional support cat?
An emotional support cat is any cat that provides comfort and companionship to a person with a diagnosed mental or emotional disability. ESA cats help alleviate symptoms of conditions like anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other psychiatric disorders. Unlike service animals, emotional support cats do not require special training—they simply need to provide therapeutic benefit to their owner and be verified by an official ESA letter from a licensed mental health professional.
How do I get an emotional support cat letter?
To obtain an ESA letter for your cat, you must complete an evaluation with a state-licensed mental health professional (LMHP) such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, therapist, or licensed counselor. The evaluation can be conducted in-person or through HIPAA-compliant telehealth services. If the LMHP determines that an emotional support cat would benefit your mental health treatment plan, they will issue an official ESA letter that serves as your legal documentation for housing accommodations.
Do I need to register my emotional support cat?
No, you do not need to register your emotional support cat. There is no official or legally recognized ESA registry in the United States. Websites offering ESA registration services, certificates, or ID cards are scams that prey on lack of knowledge about ESA requirements. The only legally valid documentation for an emotional support cat is an ESA letter signed by a licensed mental health professional—no registration is required or holds any legal value.
Can a cat be a service animal?
No, cats cannot be service animals under federal law. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service animals are defined exclusively as dogs (and in some cases, miniature horses) that are individually trained to perform specific tasks for people with disabilities. However, cats can absolutely qualify as emotional support animals, which provide comfort and companionship rather than performing trained tasks, and require only an ESA letter from a licensed clinician.
What legal protections do emotional support cats have?
Emotional support cats are protected under the Fair Housing Act, which requires landlords to provide reasonable accommodation and prohibits them from charging pet fees, deposits, or rent for ESA cats with valid ESA letters. However, as of 2021, emotional support cats are no longer entitled to fly free of charge in aircraft cabins due to changes in the Air Carrier Access Act—airlines now treat them as pets. Additionally, ESA cats do not have public access rights and cannot legally accompany you into restaurants, stores, or other public establishments where pets are prohibited.
Can I adopt a cat from a shelter to be my emotional support animal?
Yes, you can absolutely adopt a cat from a shelter or rescue organization to be your emotional support animal. Any cat can become an ESA regardless of age, breed, or background—the only requirements are an appropriate temperament and a valid ESA letter. With approximately 3.2 million cats entering shelters annually in the United States, adoption is an excellent way to find a compatible feline companion while saving a life. Shelter cats are typically already spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and health-checked before adoption.
No pet deposit 
Travel with your PSD at no cost 
No pet rent fee 
Easy ESA letter renewal plans 
No size or breed restrictions 
Continued care from your licensed professional