Rhode Island – Everyone knows that school days can be exhausting, and for art teacher Kayleigh Smith, it's no surprise. To brighten her students' week, she came up with something special: the teacher brought her cat to the classroom!

Since the beginning of the year, Pinecone the cat has been strolling through the Rhode Island middle school, serving as a therapy animal, as People reported.

"I ran the idea by my principal, and he seemed very supportive of it," the teacher said.

Besides stressful lessons, Pinecone provides a welcome change in classrooms and hallways.

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"He's here for moral support and the vibes. He really helps kids so much with anxiety," Kayleigh explained.

About three times a week, the cat accompanies his owner to the middle school.

But the road to becoming a therapy cat was anything but easy. Pinecone and Kayleigh had to complete several online courses and pass a final exam.

What does it take to be a therapy animal? As the 36‑year‑old explained, her cat must obey commands, move through crowds without trouble or fear, and ignore loud noises.

After passing the tests, Pinecone has become an integral part of school life. "Kids who are having a bad day will come into my classroom just to pet him and for a quiet moment," the teacher gushed.

A small ritual has even developed between the feline and her students: "He has his little routines and will greet people by the door of the art room."

Besides his role as a door greeter, the cat has also earned a reputation as a hall monitor.

"Sometimes he'll stop and sniff inside what's in somebody's locker, and we’ll joke that he's making his rounds, checking to make sure everything is good," Kayleigh said.

The excitement surrounding the three‑year‑old cat is huge.

Pinecone has not only helped give students an extra sense of community, but he also encourages kids to come to school in the first place.

"He's even helped open doors to conversations with students that I don't think I would ever have, because they feel comfortable coming to me and telling me about their animals," Kayleigh explained.

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But the gray four‑legger isn't only celebrated at the middle school – Pinecone is also a real star on social media.

As part of her cat experiment, Kayleigh set up an Instagram account for her pet, and more than 60,000 users already follow the teacher and her cat.