I went through a pretty similar situation last year. Anxiety and depression for a while, a pet I was terrified of losing access to, and no idea where to start with the whole ESA process.

I ended up using My ESA Therapist and honestly it was a smooth experience. You fill out an assessment, a licensed mental health professional actually reviews your case and has a real conversation with you, and then if you qualify they issue the letter. It never felt like they were just handing them out which I think actually matters when it comes to your landlord taking it seriously.

For housing specifically, my landlord accepted the letter without much back and forth. I think as long as the letter comes from a licensed professional and looks legitimate, most landlords know they have to comply under the Fair Housing Act.

And to your question about whether it actually helps day to day… honestly yes. I think the official recognition kind of gave me permission to lean into it more. My cat was already helping me but knowing it was documented made it feel less like something I had to justify to myself or anyone else.

Hope it works out for you and your rescue cat.