Many cat owners have explored the idea of their feline friend becoming their trusted service animal. While cats are obviously loved by their owners for their antics, snuggles, and ability to bring joy to an ordinary day, they are not the best animals to perform specified tasks for their disabled owner.
What Is a Service Animal?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines service animals as “dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.” The dog does not have to have formal training to perform their tasks and they do not have to wear their service animal vests when out in public.
State and local laws may define service animals to encompass more than dogs but almost every state does define a service animal as an animal that performs a specific task for a disabled individual. Emotional support animals are not defined as service animals.
Can Cats Be Service Animals?
Under current ADA guidelines, even a cat trained to perform a specific task for a disabled person cannot legally function as a service animal and is not protected under the ADA. While there are requests before the Department of Justice which oversees the ADA to allow other animals to be service animals, the current acceptable animal is still canine.
However, that does not mean cats cannot be therapeutic to people. They simply cannot function in a legal capacity as a service animal. They can be wonderful emotional support animals for their owners and provide comfort when faced with a stressful situation. The Fair Housing Act allows for non-service animals to be considered emotional support animals.
Service Animals vs. Emotional Support Animals
Service animals generally have undergone extensive training to perform specific tasks. Some service animals do not need specialized training but do need basic obedience and manners to function properly in public settings. Animals trained to assist the blind or deaf will undergo intensive training whereas animals trained to alert to low blood sugar episodes or seizures will not need to undergo as intense training.
Emotional support animals, also known as comfort animals, provide companionship, security, and emotional support. These animals live with their owners and help them work through their anxiety, PTSD, depression, or mental instability.
A mental health practitioner must diagnose you with a condition that warrants an emotional support animal before you are eligible to be covered under the Fair Housing Act or be able to fly with your emotional support animal. You must keep a letter from your mental health practitioner on your person stating you greatly benefit from an emotional support animal.
The ADA has classified that only owners with designated emotional support animals can bypass the no-pets policy when flying or choosing housing.
Another form of emotional support animal is therapy animals. These animals work with therapists and physicians in guided therapy sessions that offer emotional relief and mental support. Therapy animals do not live with the people they are assisting but do visit public places such as schools, hospitals, and nursing homes.
Cats as Emotional Support Animals
While cats cannot be service animals, they can be emotional support cats. There are specific steps you need to take to make sure your feline friend is a proper emotional support animal.
Legality
The law allows for therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and licensed mental health professionals to issue letters or certificates for those who would greatly benefit from having an emotional support animal. The letter or certificate is to be kept with you when you are traveling with your emotional support cat.
Documentation
Healthcare providers or therapists will provide you with a written letter recommending an emotional support animal to help with your mental health care. The letter must state your mental health condition and why they believe an emotional support animal will be beneficial.
You will need to submit the letter as official documentation to any housing authorities or airlines to allow you to have your emotional support animal with you. There are only two laws that provide for emotional support animals: the Air Carrier Access Act (ACA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA). Emotional support animals are exempt from no-pet policies and any pet fees.
Before Certifying Your Cat
While you do not have to officially certify your cat as a therapy animal and an emotional support animal, some people go through the full certification process. Here are the additional steps needed for official certification:
Socialization
It is a little different socializing a cat than a dog. But, for your cat to function as an emotional support animal, they do need to be somewhat social and able to adjust to new situations without stress. They also need to travel well in their crate.
Home Observation and Assessment
A qualified professional will come into your home and observe your interactions with your cat and determine their ability to work as a therapy animal. They will test your cat’s behavioral skills and how well you and your cat interact together.
Group Observation and Assessment
Your cat must pass three supervised observations at a registered facility by a qualified professional. Your cat will be assessed on how well they behave and interact within a large group setting.
Registration
Once all the assessments have been passed, you will apply along with documentation to register your cat as a therapy animal. Once the application is approved, your cat will be a certified therapy cat as well as your emotional support cat.
It would be wonderful for those who love their cats to be able to have them as a true service animal. Unfortunately, cats are not allowed to be service animals. They can, however, be emotional support animals or therapy animals. Possibly as legislation moves the ADA will change to permit cats and other animals to be service animals.
