Suri Cruise carries Katie Holmes’ cat as she returns to NYC amid first semester at college

Suri Cruise stepped out in New York on Sunday with mom Katie Holmes’ cat — amid her return to the city during her first semester at Carnegie Mellon.

Suri, 18, who dropped dad Tom Cruise’s surname for Noelle earlier this year, carried ragdoll cat Eleanor in a fabric carrier as she chatted with a friend during their walk.

The teenager wore a striped sweater and jeans during her walk, paired with a red jacket and a school bag.

Suri was the spitting image of mum Katie, 45, with her dark brown locks worn sleek and straight.

Suri is in the middle of her first semester at the University of Pittsburgh, where she is studying fashion, while her estranged father Tom foots the $65,000-a-year tuition bill.

“She’s a smart girl and she’s turning into a very intelligent, mature young woman,” an insider recently revealed to DailyMail.com. ‘She has a very close group of loyal friends and she knows exactly where she comes from.’

Suri’s mother, on the other hand, was said to be “overwhelmed” at the prospect of Suri going to Pittsburgh for college. “Katie is very proud of her, but is also extremely overprotective,” a source said.

Katie, who shot to fame in teen drama Dawson’s Creek, started dating Tom in 2005 and got engaged to him seven weeks into their relationship.

Their Scientologist wedding was held at the Castello Orsini-Odescalchi in Bracciano in November 2006, seven months after Suri was born.

Katie filed for divorce in 2012, which was finalized just ten days later.

Katie retained primary custody of Suri, while Tom received visitation through People.

Ron Miscavige, father of Scientology leader David Miscavige, told MailOnline in 2016 that Katie’s doubts about Scientology – including the effect it could have on Suri – contributed to her decision to leave Tom.

The Top Gun Maverick star reportedly paid Katie $400,000 a year until Suri’s 18th birthday, and will now send money for her college tuition.

18-year-old Suri, who dropped dad Tom Cruise’s surname for Noelle earlier this year, carried ragdoll cat Eleanor in a fabric carrier as she chatted with a friend during their walk

Noelle is the middle name of Dawson’s Creek star Katie, showing Suri’s solidarity with her mother

Katie and Tom are pictured with baby Suri in 2006, on their way to their wedding rehearsal dinner in Italy

Tom has not been seen in public with his daughter for around ten years, and sources claim he now has little involvement in her life – photo 2010

Tom has not been photographed with his daughter for eleven years and in 2018 it was claimed that he had created distance between himself and Suri.

“Anyone can see their kid if they want to,” an insider told Us Weekly. “He chooses not to because she’s not a Scientologist.”