How do I make my cat a service animal?
Jessica Cortez
Updated on May 03, 2026
- Have a cat or get a cat. If you don't have a cat, we suggest contacting your local ASPCA or Humane Society.
- Make sure your cat gives you emotional support.
- Get an ESA letter from a licensed therapist.
- Contact your landlord and/or airline and provide your ESA letter.
Considering this, how do I make my cat an emotional support animal?
To officially qualify for an emotional support cat, you must get an ESA letter from a licensed mental health professional stating your need for an ESA. If you suffer from anxiety, depression, panic attacks, PTSD, or any number of mental illnesses you may already qualify for an emotional support animal.
One may also ask, when can a landlord legally reject an ESA? A landlord cannot deny an ESA simply because they do not allow pets. No, your landlord cannot evict you because they do not want you to have an ESA. This is in direct violation of Fair Housing regulations.
Consequently, can you train a cat to be a service animal?
If you are just not a dog person, you can make a cat into an emotional support animal. Cats can be loving and playful family members to their humans and even other animals. While they cannot be trained as a service animal, cats can become outstanding emotional support animals with housing and flying rights.
What do emotional support cats do?
Cats as Emotional Support Animals. An emotional support animal (ESA) is a pet that helps to mitigate the negative symptoms of a person's emotional or psychological disability by calming and reducing emotional distress. ESAs are not considered service animals, and as such do not necessarily require training.