Original Invitee mail by Lexi Carr; updated past Lauren Mieli on 2/eight/2022

The lesser line:

  • Service Animal vs. ESA: Service animals can simply be dogs where ESAs can exist any pet. Additionally service animals need to encounter a certain standard of preparation whereas an emotional support animal does non.
  • How To Qualify For An ESA: A licensed mental health professional in your country needs to evaluate yous and recommend an ESA for you to qualify.
  • Tin Cats Be Emotional Support Animals: Aye they can.
  • How To Brand My Cat An Emotional Support Animal: Connect with a licensed mental health professional in your country to see if you qualify. We recommend using a reputable telehealth service so y'all tin connect with i chop-chop and from the comfort of your ain home.
  • Best Emotional Support Animal Service
    • OUR Superlative Choice – Pettable: Only service offer a satisfaction guarantee, pregnant your letter works or your coin dorsum.
    • Runner Up – Certapet
    • Alternative – United states Service Animals

Cheque out our top pick

There are many reasons that a person may cull to speak to their doctor or mental health provider about owning an emotional back up animal. Whatever the reason may be, the process to talk over your needs for an ESA doesn't take to exist long and arduous. If you take considered speaking to your provider about an emotional back up brute, here are some things to keep in listen.

What is an emotional support animal?

An emotional support fauna (ESA), or a support animal, is a pet whose presence is deemed by a professional person to provide benefits for people who endure from mental illnesses. Those who qualify accept mental health weather condition that can disrupt one's twenty-four hour period-to-twenty-four hour period life activities and include conditions like anxiety disorder, panic attacks, and clinical depression.

An emotional support animate being can be a great asset to anyone who lives with these conditions. An ESA can offering condolement and support to its owner among stressful situations. If you take talked to a medical professional and find that an emotional support pet is right for you, don't feel limited past the type of pet you own. If y'all already own a pet, your pet doesn't need to be a specific type of animal to be an ESA.

Tin can cats be emotional support animals?

When you imagine an emotional support animal, you might picture a service domestic dog. But ESAs are not limited to only emotional back up dogs. The procedure to obtain an ESA alphabetic character for an emotional support dog is the same for any beast. Normally, any domesticated animate being can serve you as an emotional support pet. You lot might be surprised by the types of animals that brand the best ESAs. While emotional support dogs make not bad ESAs, so practise rabbits, mini pigs, miniature horses, and cats. Cats tin certainly make excellent emotional back up animals for several reasons. Cats may have a mind of their own at times, only they tin can also be affectionate and perceptive to their owner's emotions.

If y'all remember some dogs are too rambunctious, cats make a smashing alternative to someone who wants their pet to serve them as an emotional support cat. Cats are smaller than dogs and can manage their energy levels better than some dogs. Cats typically create a calming presence in their owners' homes by bonding with their owners and developing a sense of companionship. Cats can exist an fantabulous form of emotional support for individuals that alive with feet, depression, or other mental health weather condition. If you have a true cat and want your cat to serve you every bit an ESA, yous first need to qualify for an emotional support cat.

How to qualify for an emotional support cat?

There is a very simple requirement to qualify for an emotional back up cat. If you feel debilitated by a mental wellness issue, you may do good from your pet serving yous as an ESA. If you find that things like anxiety, depression, PTSD, or other mental health struggles impact your daily life, yous may qualify for an emotional support true cat. First, you lot will demand to discuss your concerns with a medical professional person to determine whether your cat tin serve y'all equally an emotional support creature. Considering the requirements to qualify for an ESA are emotional challenges, you will demand to hash out your concerns with a licensed mental health professional.

One time yous talk over your needs with a medical professional, you will need to complete the necessary steps to get an official ESA letter. When you have documentation from a medical professional stating that you demand an ESA, you lot then authorize for your cat to be an emotional support true cat. The process to qualify for an emotional back up cat is a simple one, and there are countless benefits for your true cat to be an emotional support creature.

Benefits of Having an Emotional Support True cat

The benefits to an ESA are equally personal as the bond you share with your pet. But there are some benefits that all ESA owners will experience when they speak to a medical professional about owning an emotional back up cat.

They Offer Emotional Support

Simply as the name states, an emotional back up animal supports you emotionally, whether you lot struggle with PTSD, feet , depression, emotional disabilities, or other mental wellness struggles. ESAs are companions for their owners through difficult times that otherwise accept the potential to derail an entire solar day. With an ESA, you're given emotional condolement in difficult times.

ESAs Ease Travel Anxiety

Traveling is a stressful ordeal for most people. When you travel with an ESA, your pet can aid at-home some of those traveling nerves. When you cull to travel with your pet, some airlines will honor the ESA letter of the alphabet you have for your pet. This will permit you lot to travel with your emotional support pet, which can ease the anxiety that comes with traveling. Y'all will have to bank check with individual airlines because the rules ofttimes change, but it'southward worth checking if your ESA can at-home your travel feet.

Avoid Pet Deposit Fees

When you have an ESA, you brand information technology articulate that you have a medical need to own your pet. Considering your pet supports your mental health, you can evidence your official ESA letter to your landlord and then that your pet deposit fees are waived. This will allow you lot to alive with your pet without any worry or fees.

These are merely a few of the benefits that come with having an ESA true cat. If you already ain a cat, the process to make your cat an emotional support cat is simple.

How to make my true cat an emotional back up beast?

If you already own a cat, you tin discuss your needs to have your true cat serve you equally an ESA cat. Y'all can start by asking yourself if your true cat offers you emotional back up in your daily life. If your cat gives you emotional support, then there isn't much else you need to do to make your cat an ESA. Your cat doesn't demand to go through any special grooming to be an emotional support cat for yous. Your cat may exist doing the chore of an ESA for you because your true cat is already a companion to you.

Because an emotional support animal doesn't need special training to go an ESA, your cat tin can serve you as an ESA because it is already a function of your family. When you speak to a medical professional and discuss your need for an ESA, you won't demand to do annihilation else to make your cat an emotional support fauna. In one case yous decide that your cat is a skillful fit every bit an ESA for yous, there are several ways to get your ESA letter of the alphabet .

All-time Emotional Support Animal Letter Services

The emotional support creature qualification procedure does non need to exist difficult. Here are some reputable establishments that can aid yous go your official ESA letter.

Pettable

Pettable Website

Pros:

  • Fast turnaround time
  • Quick and easy online process
  • Offers an online prequalification quiz
  • Official letters that are compliant with federal laws
  • Total money-back guarantee
  • Excellent customer service

Cons:

  • Pre-screening quiz requires your email address and phone number
  • Information virtually pricing is not provided upfront
  • Consultations with a medical professional are just done past phone

When you lot pursue an official ESA letter through Pettable , there are some upsides and downsides to consider. When you lot apply Pettable to speak to a medical professional person nigh an ESA letter of the alphabet, Pettable offers a quick turnaround time. Later on you complete the necessary steps, y'all will receive your recommendation to have an ESA from a licensed medical professional within 24 hours. This is a benefit to anyone that needs their official ESA letter within a specific time frame. Another benefit of Pettable is its quick and easy online process.

Pettable online process

Pettable's process for an ESA letter is quick, like shooting fish in a barrel, and online, so you lot can complete the necessary steps from your domicile. That way, y'all can avoid waiting in long lines to discuss your demand for an ESA with a medical professional. First, you lot'll take a quiz to match yourself with a mental wellness provider. So you'll have a consultation with this medical professional. Pettable as well provides yous with an official ESA letter that is compliant with federal laws. You can easily download your official ESA alphabetic character to your telephone. This gives yous easy admission to your ESA alphabetic character and tin greatly benefit you when you need your alphabetic character quickly and on mitt. Y'all can also impress a re-create of your letter of the alphabet to share with your landlord. Pettable is an excellent site to consider when you lot decide you may benefit from an emotional support animal. In that location are many benefits that Pettable offers that y'all may not receive with other establishments.

While Pettable'due south procedure is online, the consultation you'll need to have with a medical professional person is only offered over the phone. This is a necessary footstep to receive your ESA recommendation. Once you complete the consultation with a medical professional person, they will decide if y'all could benefit from an emotional support animal. If the medical professional decides that you authorize, you will receive your ESA letter of the alphabet in only 24 hours. Pettable is only one of several options to discuss your needs for an emotional support animal.

CertaPet

CertaPet

Pros:

  • Fast turnaround process
  • Consultation with a licensed medical professional person
  • Official letters that are compliant with state and federal laws
  • Offers both ESA and PSD (psychiatric service dog) consultations, for domicile and travel purposes.
  • Over 7,500 5-Star Reviews
  • Serves U.S. and Canadian residents

Cons:

  • Your consultation fee is non-refundable
  • Multiple support animals and additional add-ons are charged actress
  • Requires letter fee payment before evaluation
  • Customers will receive a full refund if they are non approved, less a $35 fee .

CertaPet is another example of a reputable institution that can help you determine if yous need an emotional back up pet. CertaPet offers several benefits to individuals seeking a quick, easy process to discuss their needs for an ESA. Beginning, CertaPet has a fast turnaround process, simply as Pettable does. The procedure that CertaPet offers to determine your needs for an ESA is quite simple.

First, you only demand to take five minutes out of your day to participate in a costless screening on CertaPet's website. This screening will give you an idea of whether you lot are a good candidate for an ESA or non. After the screening, yous will have a consultation with a licensed medical professional via a telehealth appointment. Lastly, if the medical professional feels that you would do good from having an emotional back up animal, you volition receive a re-create of an official ESA letter.

So, you lot can print your letter, or CertaPet can mail an official letter to you. The official letter that you receive through CertaPet is recognized by federal and country laws. The procedure to obtain your ESA alphabetic character through CertaPet is quick and unproblematic. While CertaPet has many benefits, there is only i significant drawback to Cert Pet's process.

When you lot consummate the consultation with CertaPet, you will need to pay a small, non-refundable fee of $35. This is one downside among many benefits that CertaPet offers. CertaPet is dedicated to providing a streamlined, like shooting fish in a barrel-to-employ procedure to all individuals seeking an emotional support pet. While you may feel that an ESA is right for yous, CertaPet tin can help you know for certain afterwards you speak to i of their licensed medical professionals. Pettable and CertaPet are excellent options to decide if you would do good from an ESA, and U.s. Service Animals is another option.

U.s. Service Animals

US Service Animals

Pros:

  • Lifetime acknowledgement for pets
  • Always available for follow upwardly questions
  • Offers multilingual customer support

Cons:

  • Charges coin for unnecessary registration services
  • Does not offering separate housing and travel ESA messages
  • Non all pets qualify as US Service Animals

There are several things to consider when deciding on which service to use to discuss your needs for an emotional support brute. If you decide your pet would serve you best as a United states Service Animal, the process to do and then is quick and easy. Simply go on in listen, non all pets volition hands authorize every bit a Us service pet. First, you need to enter your pet's information into the United states of america Service Creature official website.

Later on you enter your pet's information, speak to a medical professional person, and put your pet in the US Service Animals system, yous will receive your service letter and ID card. United states of america Service Animals will send your menu to you in the mail service and digitally. In that location are several benefits once you successfully discuss your needs for your pet to serve you as a United states of america service pet. Your pet will take a lifetime acknowledgement as a United states of america service pet once information technology's officially a US service pet.

Yous will also have access to the United states of america Service Animals helpline if you have any questions or need any further help with your service pet. In one case you discuss your needs for a service pet with a medical professional and qualify, you will likewise accept access to the US Service Brute legal team. This tin be beneficial if you experience your rights accept been violated every bit an ESA owner. These are all benefits to go along in mind if yous decide that your pet will serve you as an emotional support animal.

The primary downside of pursuing a US Service Animals letter for your pet is that not all pets will hands qualify as Us service pets. There are several things to keep in mind if you lot decide that your pet will best serve you as either a service pet or an emotional support pet. Y'all need to consider the wait time for an official letter, whether y'all will have a consultation with a licensed medical professional, and the ease of the process to hash out your mental wellness needs. Another important consideration is whether or not your animal qualifies as an ESA or a service pet.

Knowing the difference between an Emotional Support Fauna and a Service Beast

An emotional support fauna (ESA), or a back up animal, is a pet whose presence is deemed past a professional to provide benefits for people who suffer from mental illnesses. Those who qualify take mental wellness conditions that tin disrupt i'south 24-hour interval-to-day life activities and include weather condition similar anxiety disorder, panic attacks, and clinical depression.

ESAs differ from service animals in that service animals are specifically trained to perform a variety of tasks (i.east., detect seizures earlier they strike, provide deep force per unit area therapy, bring medication to their handler.) While information technology is typical for a canis familiaris to be registered every bit an ESA, that doesn't necessarily mean that other animals cannot, every bit there are no rules that specify what an ESA animal should be. This means that, if you have a cat, and you are deemed qualified by a mental health professional —you tin can register your feline companion as an ESA. Still, there are quite a few things that yous have to consider before registering your cat as an emotional service fauna.

There isn't an "official" registration for an Emotional Support cat

The only kind of registration that y'all volition demand is your ESA letter of the alphabet from a therapist. There is no official register that you are legally required to sign your cat upwardly for. Additionally, an emotional support cat doesn't take to habiliment a special vest or tag of any sort, declaring your companion's status every bit a support brute.

Beware of scammers

Considering the process for registering your true cat as an ESA is fairly unproblematic and straightforward and non at all equally stringent as registering a service animal, there are many companies taking advantage of this fact and merits that they can "officially certify" your ESA. Without any prior knowledge of ESAs, a pet owner could end up paying money for an illegitimate document or phony certification. Unlike support animals, an ESA is non guaranteed into whatsoever venue.

Your ESA is covered under the Fair Housing Act

This act states that your landlord must provide reasonable accommodations to you lot and your ESA; yet, if it imposes whatsoever financial or administrative strain on your landlord, your landlord can also decline your ESA through legal proceedings. This is also possible if you have an ESA that is very large (i.eastward., a equus caballus.)

Housing that isn't covered by FHA

Rental spaces of iv units or less (where the owner is actually living in one of the units), single family homes that are sold/rented by the owner without the employ of a broker, and housing that is operated by private clubs and religious organizations that restrict occupancy to their members are not covered by FHA.

Emotional Support Animals and the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA)

Your emotional service animal may be able to travel with you inside the airplane cabin but due to significant corruption of this regulation , it is currently under scrutiny and the rules may change. Obtaining a letter from a licensed professional person is crucial in having your companion fly with you. Make certain y'all have the letter dated no later than one year before you use it. Contact your airline a few days before your scheduled flight to make proper arrangements.

Emotional Support Animals and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, emotional support animals are not considered service animals. This is a really important distinction because back up animals do not savor the same type of access as service animals. Services animals are specifically trained to perform a specific task for their owner and they are not viewed every bit pets, but workers. Service animals help blind people get around, help those with epilepsy know when a seizure will strike and and so much more. Today, the ADA will only consider dogs as service animals and they must undergo the appropriate certification. Cats were previously allowed to exist service animals, provided they were trained. Those who accept a service cat that was previously certified are usually grandfathered into the program… but cats are no longer immune to be considered service animals.

Frequently Asked Questions Nigh Support Cats

Are cats good for emotional back up?

Cats are affectionate and can easily bail with their caregivers. Cats are small, tranquillity, clean, and can frequently be compassionate animals. Considering of this, cats provide emotional back up to their owners and brand excellent emotional back up animals.

How to annals a cat as an emotional support animal?

While you don't demand to have an ESA pet, the process is simple if y'all determine to talk over your medical needs for an ESA pet with a md.  You will need to complete a brusk screening and accept a consultation with a licensed medical professional person who will determine if you qualify for an ESA cat letter today.

Can a landlord refuse an emotional support cat?

No. If your emotional support cat does not pose a threat to others, your landlord cannot refuse your emotional support beast. Under the Fair Housing Act, a landlord cannot pass up a tenant because they have a pet if that pet is an ESA.

How much does an emotional cat price?

When you seek out an emotional support true cat, you will usually need to pay the fees for your screening and your consultation with a medical professional. This cost ranges depending on which institution you use to become your ESA letter.

Are emotional support cats required to have a pet deposit?

No. Pet deposit fees are waived once you have your official ESA alphabetic character and you share your letter of the alphabet with your landlord. It is unlawful for your landlord to accuse y'all a pet deposit when your pet is an emotional support cat.

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