One of the things that may cause a person to forgo treatment in a drug and alcohol rehab facility is that they may have to leave their pet behind. They’ll be pleased to learn that there are indeed drug and alcohol rehab facilities that allow patients to bring their pets, especially their cats. This even includes outpatient facilities.
Experts in addiction medicine have discovered that there are many benefits for patients who are able to bring their cats with them to a rehab facility. Having the company of their cat reduces anxiety and stress and encourages the patient to think positively, which will help when treatment becomes challenging.
The presence of their pet also heightens the patient’s self-esteem. These benefits are even measurable. Patients whose pets stay with them during treatment have lower blood pressure and heart rates, and their withdrawal symptoms are eased. Of course, the cat needs to be current when it comes to vaccinations, and some rehab centers ask for homeowners or renters’ insurance before the cat can be admitted with the approval of the management.
List Of The Best Cat-Friendly Drug And Alcohol Rehab Programs
The best cat-friendly addiction treatment facilities are open 24 hours a day and provide luxury services. The following programs were chosen for facility accreditation, client reviews, variety of treatments, and other crucial treatment criteria.
1. Alta Mira Recovery Programs, Sausalito, California
This rehab facility, which has up to 24 beds available at a time, is a luxury rehab program. Along with being-cat friendly, they operate a residential treatment program where the patient has the choice of a 90-day program, a 30-day program, or a family program.
While in these rehab programs, people are treated for addictions to:
- alcohol
- opioids
- prescription drugs
- benzodiazepines
- marijuana
- methamphetamines
- cocaine
- other stimulants
- other sedatives
They also help individuals with dual diagnosis and those who have problems with chronic relapse.
Addiction therapies include experiential and alternative treatments such as:
- yoga
- guided meditation
- massage
- acupuncture
- art therapy
- music therapy
- equine-assisted therapy
Experiential therapies include outings to Bay Area recreation such as rock climbing, sailing, hiking, and kayaking. Alta Mira also helps people overcome their addiction through medication-assisted detox and 12-step peer support.
Location and contact information:
125 Bulkley Ave.
Sausalito, CA 94965
(866) 922-1350
2. Broadway Treatment Center, Huntington Beach, California
This cat-friendly rehab center offers residential, IOP, and aftercare programs to help patients battling and recovering from their addiction to drugs and alcohol. They also stage interventions and operate a detoxification program to purge the patient’s body of toxins caused by their substance abuse.
Besides being pet-friendly, Broadway Treatment Center helps couples who are both caught in addiction. They also treat people who have dual diagnosis, which means they are suffering from mental health problems as well as drug or alcohol addiction. They have a drug diversion program for patients who would otherwise be incarcerated for their drug use.
Their holistic addiction treatment programs include:
- Matrix Model for patients addicted to stimulants
- replacement therapy
- art therapy
- trauma therapy
- yoga
- recreational therapy
Location and contact information:
18582 Beach Blvd.
Ste. #214
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 443-8218
3. Capo By The Sea, San Juan Capistrano, California
Another cat-friendly addiction treatment center, this luxury rehab center relies on evidence-based treatment to help their patients conquer substance abuse. The rehab center offers a residential detox program where patients are monitored and given MAT in the form of buprenorphine and methadone. Medications help them detox with less discomfort and without the cravings for the drug of abuse that can interfere with their treatment.
When patients have been stabilized, they enter a residential or outpatient rehab program where they are helped through dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and individual and group counseling.
Other therapies include:
- 12-step approach
- EMDR, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing
- massage
- recreational therapy
- acupuncture
- equine therapy
Location and contact information:
27130 Paseo Espada
Ste. #521
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
(877) 958-5639
4. Changing Tides Addiction Treatment Center, Kitty Hawk, North Carolina
Located on North Carolina’s beautiful Outer Banks, this cat-friendly IOP and long-term residential treatment center offers private rooms and suites for families. These accommodations are ideal for a beloved cat and its recovering owner.
Treatment therapies offered at Changing Tides include:
- drug rehab programs
- mindfulness-based therapy
- motivational interviewing
- reality therapy
- solution-focused brief therapy
- trauma therapy
- CBT
- art therapy
- experiential therapy
They also offer individual, family, and group therapy as well as continuing care and interventions.
Location and contact information:
3512 N. Virginia Dare Trail
Kitty Hawk, NC 27949
(252) 242-3900
5. Cumberland Heights—Nashville Addiction Treatment, Nashville, Tennessee
Found on a lush 177-acre campus on the Cumberland River, this pet-welcoming facility embraces the 12-step philosophy. They treat patients who are addicted to opioids and alcohol with MAT with such medications as buprenorphine and Campral. They run both outpatient and inpatient rehab programs and stage brief interventions.
While attending the rehab programs, patients are provided:
- individual counseling
- group counseling
- family counseling
- anger management
- relapse prevention
- motivational interviewing
- contingency management/motivational incentive
Case management helps to coordinate the level of care, and clients receive continuing care after they graduate from the program.
Location and contact information:
8283 River Road Pike
Nashville, TN 37209
(855) 805-4664
6. Discovery Institute, Marlboro, New Jersey
Open 24 hours, the rehab programs offered by this cat-friendly alcohol and drug rehab facility include 12-step recovery groups, detoxification, residential care, regular outpatient, and IOP. They help people undergo opioid detox through the use of buprenorphine and also help with detox from alcohol, benzodiazepines, cocaine, and meth.
Therapies available here include:
- CBT
- individual therapy
- group therapy
- trauma therapy
- 12-step approach
- DBT
- relapse prevention
- anger management
They treat clients who have been referred by the court, save those with DWI citations, and there is a psychiatrist on site.
Location and contact information:
80 Conover Rd.
Marlboro, NJ 07746
(732) 333-3167
7. Hanley Center At Origins, West Palm Beach, Florida
Another cat-friendly drug rehab program found close to a beautiful beach, the Hanley Center offers medication-assisted treatment for patients addicted to both opioids and alcohol. Programs include inpatient and outpatient drug rehab programs, short- and long-term drug inpatient programs, IOP, and partial hospitalization.
Treatment options may include:
- aftercare
- case management
- discharge planning
- individual counseling
- group counseling
- family counseling
- substance abuse education
- social skills development
- self-help groups
The Hanley Center treats adults, young adults, and seniors as well as people with co-occurring mental health disorders.
Location and contact information:
933 45th St.
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
(866)542-6539
8. Recovery Unplugged, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Recovery Unplugged is unique because it uses music to help patients heal from their addictions. It’s an outpatient rehab facility that welcomes the patient’s cat, whose presence can release the same types of endorphins as music. They offer medication-assisted treatment, and the Matrix Model is available for people who have addiction to stimulants.
Therapy offered here includes:
- CBT
- DBT
- anger management
- community outreach
- rational emotive behavior therapy
- relapse prevention
- trauma therapy
- 12-step approach
Recovery Unplugged accepts patients with dual diagnosis, members of the LGBT community, active-duty military and their families and clients referred by the court, save those with DWI citations.
Location and contact information:
915 Middle River Dr.
Ste. #114
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
(954) 368-0888
9. Taylor Recovery, Houston, Texas
Besides accepting cats, this rehab center offers patients IOP, residential, and partial hospitalization programs. Patients are treated holistically while in these programs through individual, group, and family therapy. The staff also leads patients through behavioral and experiential therapy and can connect those who have graduated from the rehab programs into sober living apartments.
Taylor Recovery also offers medically supervised drug detox. At this rehab facility, clients undergo drug detox with a minimum of medication, and most of the support is psychological. Medication given to people undergoing detox is largely antianxiety and antidepressant medications.
Location and contact information:
5711 Lavender St.
Houston, TX 77026
(713) 557-8573
What To Look For In A Cat-Friendly Drug Rehab Program
Consider these important factors when searching for cat-friendly addiction treatment facilities.
Key factors to consider:
- clear pet policies including size limits, number of cats allowed, and required documentation like
- vaccination records
- pet-friendly living accommodations with adequate space for litter boxes, food, and your cat’s comfort
- veterinary care access nearby in case your cat needs medical attention during your stay
- outdoor or designated indoor areas where your cat can exercise and play safely
- staff support and understanding about caring for pets during treatment
- additional pet fees or deposits required beyond standard treatment costs
- pet supply availability or whether you need to bring all food, litter, toys, and bedding
- restrictions on when cats can be in your room versus common areas
- roommate matching with other pet owners or those comfortable around animals
- emergency pet care arrangements if you need to attend intensive therapy sessions
- licensing and accreditation of the treatment facility ensuring quality addiction care
- comprehensive treatment services including detox, therapy, and medication-assisted treatment options
- insurance acceptance and costs for both treatment and pet accommodations
- reviews from former clients about their experience bringing pets to the facility
Finding a facility that welcomes cats allows you to have the emotional support of your pet during recovery while receiving professional addiction treatment in a comfortable, pet-friendly environment.
Article resources
Addiction Resource aims to provide only the most current, accurate information in regards to addiction and addiction treatment, which means we only reference the most credible sources available.
These include peer-reviewed journals, government entities and academic institutions, and leaders in addiction healthcare and advocacy. Learn more about how we safeguard our content by viewing our editorial policy.
- NCBI — Substance Abuse: Clinical Issues in Intensive Outpatient Treatment
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64102/
