The Therapod tour kicks off in May in New York City, will head to Chicago in September, and Los Angeles in October. (PRNewsfoto/Purina Friskies)
Purina Cat Chow’s Therapod brings certified therapy cats to NYC during finals week, offering New Yorkers a calming, screen-free break near NYU and Washington Square Park.
At a Glance
Therapy cat pop-up coming to NYC during finals week
Free, phone-free experience for all near NYU
Hosted by Purina Cat Chow with certified therapy cats
Backed by research showing stress reduction benefits
Part of a national tour hitting Chicago and Los Angeles next
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Therapy Cats Pop-Up Near NYU
If you have a teen or college-age student, you know that right now is heading toward major crunch time for finals. You probably also remember how anxiety-provoking finals were. Studies show finals week can even affect a woman’s cycle simply due to the stress. Instead of another wellness app or unhelpful advice to just take a walk, Purina Cat Chow is trying to help students – and all New Yorkers_– destress with a little cat therapy.
Purina Cat Chow brings the healing power of cats to college campuses across the country as part of its Cats as Therapy Project. (PRNewsfoto/Purina Friskies)
This May, Purina is bringing its Cat Chow Therapod to college campuses, starting in New York City at Washington Square Park. It’s a mobile, phone-free space filled with certified therapy cats, and part of a bigger effort to help students unplug and reset without screens. It’s honestly something we could all use, not just students, since parents are inundated with tech to-dos.
Inside the Therapod, you’ll find certified therapy cats from Pet Partners, like Pumpkin and Lola Pearl, groups that specialize in animal-assisted therapy. It’s a calm space where visitors can sit, pet a cat, and soothe their nervous systems and brains. Sitting quietly with a cat might be the most realistic stress relief option out there.
There is also science behind this, since studies show that even 10 minutes with a cat can lower cortisol, the hormone tied to stress. If you’ve ever had a cat curl up next to you or start purring out of nowhere, you already know that this simple calming activity can help slow down a frantic mind.
The cat therapy is open to all, not just students, and here will also be adoptable cats from Meow Squad if you’d like to add to your family. Over 20K people, from ages 5-80, showed up when this event was held last year.
The Cat Chow Therapod offers participants a moment of calm through connection with certified therapy cats from Pet Partners. (PRNewsfoto/Purina Friskies)
Where to Find the Cat Chow Therapod in NYC
The pop-up kicks off right in the middle of finals season:
May 6–7, 10 am–4 pm
Near New York University (College of Arts & Science entrance)
Adjacent to Washington Square Park
It’s free, open to students, and designed to be a quick reset between study sessions.
NYC is the first stop, but the tour continues in Chicago, on September 16–17 at DePaul University, and in Los Angeles on October 6–7 at UCLA and Westwood Village.
Cat Chow also launched a digital companion program through its Cats as Therapy project, with simple ways to bring a little of that same calm into daily life.
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