Show
Overview
Published: 7/9/2021 Our feline furiends have certainly shown how deeply they can bond with us, and have been known to do some pretty amazing things too! There have been plenty of anecdotes of cats opening doors or warning their pet parents about fires and other disasters. One such tale is of a woman with widespread nerve pain and a tendency to faint who trained five of her cats to perform tasks such as driving her wheelchair, fetching her phone, and pushing her out of the shower. One of her cats even calls 911 when she passes out. Does the ability to do these tasks mean that cats can also be service animals? What Makes a Service Animal?Most cats seem to be indifferent to what we are doing, but some certainly show their love by keeping an eye on us. And while stories abound online of cats doing extraordinary things to help their pet parents, the real question is if they are able to be trained to be a service animal full time. According to the American with Disabilities Act, a service animal is a dog who is trained to perform tasks to help people with disabilities, including those with mental, sensory, intellectual, psychiatric, and physical disabilities. It further states that only dogs are recognized as service animals. If you were looking at your fluffy feline and wondering if they could be trained to help fetch you things, the official answer to the question ‘can cats become service animals’ is no, not officially. It’s commonly believed that only dogs can learn the things that many service animals are asked to do, such as seizure support, guiding, and assisting with daily activities. But in most cases, the relationship between a human and a service animal also includes affection and emotional support, and for these traits, cats are just purrfect. So, if cats can’t be service animals, what can they do for us? Can Cats Be Emotional Support Animals?There’s no doubt that owning a cat can bring a lot of benefits into your life. But many cats also seem to be hardwired to become Emotional Support Animals (ESA). Some breeds are better at it than others, but in general, ESAs are pets who, through their purrsonalities and behaviors, provide emotional support to their people. Emotional support animals are not considered service animals, and the rules are not quite as strict. Cats can be designated official ESAs by the ESA Registration Organization. To register a cat, a therapist must identify and prescribe a need for the emotional support, and suggest therapy ranging from individual to group therapy, or to mental health institutions. A letter from the therapist is accompanied by regular evaluations and assessments of the cat’s effectiveness in how they help their human. The advantage of the program is that ESA cats can protect their pet parents from discrimination in housing and other rights, and may even be taken to places where a cat would normally not be allowed, such as public transportation. Which Cat Breeds Make the Best Emotional Support Animals?Several traits have been identified as defining a good breed for emotional support. Many of these felines are gentle, affectionate and intelligent. They can be cuddly, playful and get along well with children and older adults. While almost any cat may be able to fill these criteria, there are certain breeds that carry the desired traits that make them furrific emotional support animals. These include:
Can Cats Be Therapy Animals?Therapy animals are also not considered service animals, which means cats are eligible for this pawrific work. There are currently two types of recognized therapy animals: Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) and Animal Assisted Activities Therapy (AAAT).
Both types of therapy can benefit people by lowering blood pressure, heart rate, and anxiety levels, as well as providing comfort and unconditional love. Therapy cats aren’t pets and don’t live with the patients they work with. These animals are trained and managed by cat behavioral professionals. But because they are not registered emotional support animals, they don’t afford the same privileges through the ADA and the federal government as registered emotional support cats do. Can You Benefit from a Therapy Cat?Many conditions and behaviors can be improved by the use of AAT and AAAT therapy animals, including:
These helpful kitties can also have a positive effect on the development of feelings of motivation, empathy, and nurturing skills. So can cats become service animals? No, not yet. But there’s no doubt they can be of service to humans in other ways. Providing support and therapy for people who are suffering from emotional, psychological or physical pain is right up a cat’s alley! What is the best emotional support cat?The Best Emotional Support Cats. Ragdoll. Ragdoll cats feel just like ragdolls, hence the name. ... . American Bobtail. Announced as an official breed in 2002, the American Bobtail has quickly become one of the most popular cat breeds in the US. ... . Manx. Manx cats don't have a tail. ... . Persian. ... . Russian Blue. ... . Maine Coon.. Can cats be trained like dogs?Yes, you can train a cat like a dog, as long as you make some adjustments, and add an extra dose of patience. We love helping people train their cats—and we even offer kitten and cat training around the globe thanks to remote training sessions!
How do I make my cat an emotional support animal in Canada?To have an emotional support animal in Canada the owner needs to ask a qualified mental health professional or doctor in their province to write a letter, who will then assess whether or not the owner will benefit from having an emotional support animal.
Can a cat be a service animal in California?Under California and federal law, assistance animals must be allowed in housing as a reasonable accommodation for a tenant's disability. Any kind of animal can be an assistance animal, as long as it alleviates symptoms of the handler's disability.
|