Whether you’ve seen a dog out in public wearing a service dog vest or noticed that your neighbor has cats in otherwise not pet-friendly housing, you might be wondering how that’s even possible. You may even be asking yourself – can I make my cat a service animal?
Unfortunately, the answer to that question is a long and complicated one. Fortunately, we’re here to break everything down for you. Read on to learn more about cats and how they can provide emotional support and other services.
What Is a Service Animal?
First things first, it’s important to understand what a service animal is because these aren’t your average animals.
A service animal is handled more like another citizen than a pet, which is why you’ll usually find them out in public, on airplanes, and in non-pet-friendly housing with their handlers. Ultimately, they go where their handlers go thanks to rules outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), and Fair Housing Act (FHA).
That said, in order to get these benefits, service animals have to go through extensive service animal training. They also need to be trained for someone’s specific qualifying disability. For example, if someone has panic attacks, the service animal needs to be trained to recognize the trigger of these attacks and help their handlers get to safety if necessary.
It’s also important to note that service animals can only be miniature horses or dogs. While the breed is less important, other animals don’t usually qualify for service dog status.
Can I Make My Cat a Service Animal?
No, you can’t make your cat a service animal. The only animals that qualify for service animal status are dogs and miniature horses. We hope this changes in the future, but for now, cats can only provide support and therapy in other ways. If you need a small animal as a service animal due to your living situation, you can always opt for a small dog breed with a high level of emotional intelligence.
Can Cats Be Emotional Support Animals?
While your cat can’t be a service animal, that doesn’t mean they can’t support you in other ways. Instead of registering your cat as a service animal, you can try registering them as an emotional support animal. These are animals that provide comfort for people who have mental health disabilities. Emotional support animals are protected under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), so they can live in apartments that don’t usually allow pets; this is their protection under the law.
To help your cat become an ESA we recommend going through an online ESA animal registration program. You’ll need to provide these services with information about you, your cat, and your mental health disorder. From there, a licensed mental health professional will speak to you over the phone to approve you for an ESA letter. Then, it’s a matter of waiting for the letter to arrive.
Can Cats Be Therapy Animals?
Yes, cats can become therapy animals. These are animals that help large groups of people feel more comfortable, happy, and less stressed. You’ll commonly find therapy animals in hospitals, schools, funeral homes, and other places where groups of people gather.
The process for a cat becoming a therapy animal is similar compared to the ESA process. However, therapy cats may need to be able to administer deep pressure therapy (DPT). Therapy cats may also need special permission to visit some locations, so it’s always important to check your state’s laws and regulations for therapy animals.
So, Can I Make My Cat a Service Animal?
Unfortunately, you can’t make your cat a service animal. The good news is that you can always have your cat help you in other ways. You can always register them as an emotional support animal or therapy animal instead. In fact, cats tend to thrive in these roles because they’re great at providing comfort when people need them.
Whether they’re sitting on your lap or purring, cats make great companion animals for those in need. That said, make sure you have an ESA letter and that it’s from a reliable licensed mental health professional for the best results.