Cats cannot officially be classified as service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA defines service animals strictly as dogs that have been individually trained to perform tasks for individuals with disabilities. This definition excludes all other species, including cats, which means there is no legal recognition of "service cats" in the same way there are service dogs.

However, cats can serve as emotional support animals (ESAs), providing comfort and companionship to individuals dealing with emotional or mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD. Unlike service animals, ESAs do not require specific training for tasks; their primary role is to offer emotional support through their presence.

In recent developments, some airports, particularly in the Netherlands, have begun using cats for drug detection, marking a significant shift from the traditional reliance on dogs for this purpose.