“Can it still be an emotional support animal if the animal doesn’t want to participate? Asking for my cat”

A cat can be an emotional support animal, but does it want to be one? This was posted on X/Twitter by Katie D on February 11, 2025, and it received over 1,600 likes:
   
“Can it still be an emotional support animal if the animal doesn’t want to participate?? Asking for my cat.”
   
   
Wikipedia: Emotional Support Animal
An emotional support animal (ESA) is an animal that provides support to individuals with a mental health or psychiatric disability. Emotional support animals are not required to be trained. Any animal that provides support, comfort, or aid, to an individual through companionship, unconditional positive regard, and affection may be regarded as an emotional support animal.
 
In the United States, emotional support animals are not recognized as service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Service animals are trained to perform specific tasks such as helping a blind person navigate. People with mental health disabilities who possess an emotional support animal may be exempt from certain federal housing and travel rules. To receive these exemptions, the handler must meet the federal definition of disabled, and the emotional support animal must help alleviate the symptoms or effects of the disability.
     
X/Twitter
Katie D
@KatieDeal99
Can it still be an emotional support animal if the animal doesn’t want to participate?? Asking for my cat.
6:25 PM · Feb 11, 2025
     
Bluesky
Michelle
@michelleroy78.bsky.social
Can it still be an emotional support animal if the animal doesn’t want to participate?? Asking for my cat.
2:42 PM · Oct 8, 2025
 
X/Twitter
🌊Two For Joy 🌊
@CKscullycat
Can it still be an emotional support animal if the animal doesn’t want to participate? Asking for my cat 🤔
3:42 PM · Dec 1, 2025
   
X/Twitter
Papa Woof und Krampus und Bleaken
@woofknight
Can it still be an emotional support animal if the animal doesn’t want to participate?? Asking for my cat.
2:40 PM · Oct 25, 2026 from Cahokia, IL
 
Facebook
im not right in the head.com
October 30, 2026 at 1:59 PM ·
Can it still be an emotional support animal if the animal doesn’t want to participate?Asking for my cat.