Lined along with the shop windows in Chinatown, perched next to the cash register of your favourite Asian restaurant, chances are you’ve seen a ubiquitous cat figurine with one paw raised in greeting. This is a talisman of many names: lucky cat, fortune cat, and money cat, for starters. However, its proper moniker is Maneki-Neko, and it’s not even Chinese, it’s Japanese.

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Maneki-Neko means “beckoning cat” in Japanese. The figurine is believed to bring good luck and fortune to its owner. It depicts a seated cat - traditionally a calico Japanese Bobtail - with one upright paw. A Maneki-Neko with a raised left paw is said to invite customers and business success, while a raised right paw brings in money and good fortune. Some even feature battery- or solar-powered moving arms that endlessly wave at and beckon passersby into their shops.

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Lucky Cats are usually made of ceramic or plastic. The Lucky Cats first appeared during the Edo period in Japan and conquered the world. Nowadays you find Lucky Cats everywhere and in many cultures.

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The lucky cat figurine depicts a cat beckoning with an upright paw, and is usually displayed, often at the entrance, of shops, restaurants and other businesses. Some of the sculptures are electric or battery-powered and have a slow-moving paw.

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