How To Train A Cat To Be An Emotional Support Animal

Introduction

You’ve decided to take the plunge and adopt a new pet. So, you visit your local animal shelter or cat rescue organization. You’re struck by how so many of the cats have the qualities you’d like to see in a companion. There’s just one problem: All of them seem so skittish! Could it be that their socialization training has been sabotaged by their previous owners?

Luckily for you—and for any cats who need a new home—it turns out that socializing feral cats can be done with minimal effort. Let’s explore how this can be accomplished, and how to train your new cat to become an emotional support animal (ESA).

Become An Emotional Support Animal Owner

To become an emotional support animal owner, you should:

Register your cat as an emotional support animal with the government. This process begins by submitting a completed application to your local city or county office. Check with your local government for more details on this registration process.
Get an ESA letter from a doctor stating that you need their help to provide comfort and stress relief for yourself or family member because of disability (check out the Department of Transportation’s website for more information about how to apply). In some cases, it might be easier to obtain this letter through your veterinarian instead of traveling all over town trying to find a specialist who can write one for you!
Get microchipped (this is required in most states). It’s important that every pet—even cats!—have these little implants so they can be identified if they go missing or get lost during travel at some point in the future. If possible, make sure both parents are chipped before breeding so there aren’t any issues down the road like accidental mating between parents who aren’t supposed too yet…

Learn How To Create An ESA Letter

To get your ESA letter, you will have to visit your doctor. Your doctor will make sure that you are in need of an emotional support animal and then write a letter for you. Make sure that the doctor has the proper credentials and license before visiting him/her for the first time.

The ESA letter should include the following:

The name of the patient
Name of his/her physician
Date of issue
Verification from a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist that they have treated this person with an anxiety disorder, depression (or other recognized mental health condition), heart disease, diabetes or another illness which may be alleviated by having an emotional support animal accompany them

Get Your Cat Used To Being Around People

To get your cat used to being around people, you can take it to places where there are lots of people. You can do this by taking your cat to a local park or even just walking through the neighborhood. You can also take your cat to a local cafe or library. The more times he spends in these areas with people around him, the less likely he will be scared later on in life when new situations arise.

Work On Socialization Skills When You Go Out Into Public Spaces

Teach your cat to be comfortable in a variety of public spaces. As you take your cat out into the world, he should get used to being around lots of people, other animals, and different noises. This will help him adjust to any possible scenarios he may encounter on his travels with you.

Teach Your Cat Basic Obedience Training

Basic obedience training is the foundation for any cat that you want to train to be an emotional support animal. The training will help you and your cat learn how to communicate with each other, and make future training easier. It also makes things safer for both of you, so it’s an important step in the long haul.

Here are some basic commands that every cat should know:

sit
stay
lie down
come when called (or “come here”)

There may be more specific commands depending on where you live or what kind of work your cat does with you, but those four basic ones are enough for most situations!

Consider Working With An Animal Trainer If Necessary

If you have a specific problem with your cat, it may be worthwhile to work with an animal trainer. If you are not sure what to do, or where to begin, the help of a professional can be invaluable. Animal trainers can also help if you are worried about your cat making a mess or becoming aggressive while they are learning new behaviors.

You can do it all by yourself.

This is a long process, and it will take time. You’ll need to be consistent, patient, persistent and determined. But if you follow the steps outlined in this guidebook we promise you that your cat will learn what he needs to know to become an emotional support animal!

Conclusion

This is one of the most important things to remember when training your cat as an ESA. If you’re dedicated and put in the time, your cat can certainly be a great emotional support animal. Keep in mind that this process takes time, so don’t feel discouraged if it doesn’t work right away. Just keep practicing!