Registering a Cat as an Emotional Support Animal

Many individuals find great comfort in the presence of a cat. In recent years, cats have been identified as emotional support animals, providing relief and comfort to individuals suffering from a variety of emotional disabilities. Registering your cat as an emotional support animal allows you to be accompanied by your feline pal in places that may not normally allow cats.

  1. Support - The Cat's Meow

    • Facing emotional disabilities can be crippling, and an emotional support animal may be essential to cope with situations that were once second nature. Emotional support animals have been known to assist in coping with anxiety, depression, panic and personality disorders, as well as post traumatic stress disorder. Cats in particular are of great comfort to their owners, and are known to reduce stress and anxiety. The University of Minnesota's Stroke Institute conducted a 10-year study, during which they determined that cat owners had a 30 percent lower risk of suffering a heart attack than those lacking feline companionship, further proving the health benefits of cat ownership.

    The Letter of the Law

    • To register a cat as an emotional support animal, you must first obtain a letter from a therapist or psychologist prescribing your feline companion. If you're already seeking treatment, your provider can explain the benefits these companions can provide. Once you've acquired your letter, you can register your companion animal with the National Service Animal Registry. Federal law recognizes emotional support animals as companions. Additionally, the Americans with Disabilities Act, allows emotional support animals to accompany their owners in the cabin of a commercial aircraft.

    Crossing Barriers

    • While the Americans with Disabilities Act, affords emotional support animals the right to fly with their owners, these animals differ from registered service animals, in that they may not be allowed in all public places, even with proper registration. The ADA recognizes all forms of disabilities, but in terms of crossing barriers, emotional support animals differ from service animals, and may be banned from certain establishments. Service animals perform a particular task an owner can no longer perform, whereas emotional support animals provide comfort in situations owners find frightening and stressful.

    There's No Place Like Home

    • Most cat owners feel that home isn't the same without a cat, but many landlords do not share that mentality. The Fair Housing Act protects potential tenants who rely upon feline companions for emotional support from discrimination, and a cat that has been registered as an emotional support animal may be allowed into housing that normally prohibit pets.

    A Lifelong Buddy

    • Emotional support animals provide more than just love to their human companions. Sharing your life with a cat can ease the stress and anxiety of life, and having a registered support animal may make the more frightening aspects of everyday life easier to bear.