• by Tanya Gazdik , April 22, 2014

Purina One is planning to open a “Cat Cafe” in New York City with the help of a “Dancing With the Stars” judge Carrie Ann Inaba.

Inaba, who is also the founder of The Carrie Ann Inaba Animal Project, has partnered with Purina on this initiative to help improve the lives and well-being of cats everywhere. She will make an appearance at the cafe.

Located in Manhattan's Bowery neighborhood, the cafe will be open April 24-27. Visitors can drop by for coffee, conversation and cat health education. Every day, the cafe will feature different cat experts and interactive demonstrations to foster conversation and education so cat owners can gain valuable insights about their cat and cat health.

Purina One has also partnered with North Shore Animal League America to provide adoptable companion cats to mingle amongst patrons at the Cat Cafe.

St. Louis-based Nestle Purina Pet Care is building on the feline phenomenon already popular in Europe and Asia to open what it is calling the first ever Cat Cafe in America. Patrons can sip "cat'achinos" while spending time with and learning about cats, cat health and Purina One’s 28 Day Challenge, in which Purina will give pet owners a bag of food to try for free, to see if their pet’s health improves during the 28 days it eats it.

"We hope our Cat Cafe is ‘one’ small step toward a greater focus on cat health," said Brian Williams, brand manager for Purina One brand cat food, in a release "Our goal for the Cat Cafe is to create a rich, interactive environment that empowers cat owners to learn more about their cat's health and nutritional needs.”