Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
A hairless cat named Juno is taking the Virginia Tech campus by storm, making friends every day.
The one-year-old Sphynx breed is changing the way students, staff and the public think about their daily tasks and the stress associated with it.
Juno is a resident cat affiliated with the Virginia Tech School of Animal Sciences and its Cat Training Course. Often involved in campus outreach, he is known for his vocal nature and participation in “Office Hours with Juno.”
He is frequently featured in community engagement events such as visiting residence halls and greeting students and staff at police outreach events. Juno even has his own coloring book.
Senior residential leader Addison Swenson from Emporia has had Juno, who lives with her in Hoge Hall, since May 2025. Swenson is a psychology major and admits how this related field has manifested right in front of her, thanks to Juno.
“I started using Juno as a comfort animal when I saw the traction he was gaining in the first week of being an SL (Student Leader.) He initially came to offer me emotional support, but he quickly began reaching the Hoge Hall community as well. I realized his presence was important when residents would come to my room for hours just to spend time with Juno,” Swenson said.
Those visits with Juno led them talking to Swenson about anything you can imagine, from their daily Virginia Tech experiences to their feelings surrounding their identity and who they want to become.
The idea of emotional support cats has surged in popularity, helping provide comfort and anxiety relief, particularly among young generations. Their independent nature and calming, low-maintenance presence, including therapeutic purring, make them popular choices for individuals seeking companionship without high-demand care.
Owners report that emotional support cats also boost morale, sometimes acting as “unsung” heroes in mental health support.
Swenson said the response has been overwhelmingly positive from residents, other student leaders, and even campus partners.
“Juno has made connecting with residents so much easier, and I truly believe he has made a difference in my community. After seeing Juno at one of my events, the Virginia Tech Police Department even requested him to be the star of one of their office hours, where he helped promote being #HokieReady. They had coloring pages of Juno and stickers, and it turned into a really engaging and memorable event for students,” she said.
While his schedule might not be demanding like other “doctors of the mind,” June does have office hours.
“Whenever I am in my room and not studying or sleeping, Juno is available. He attends all my events, and even some that I do not host that just could use some comfort. I am looking toward creating a consistent weekly schedule for Juno that has an open-door policy (with a gate at my dorm door of course), allowing anyone to come in during the designated hours,” Swenson concluded.
For now, Juno the cat is in.
