The Maneki Neko, also known as  “The beckoning cat” or “welcoming cat”, is a small cat figurine that is also a sign of luck and a great tradition in old Chinese and Japanese culture, but what does it REALLY mean? well lets see! To start off, Nobody is quite sure the EXACT date or reason for the appearance of Maneki Nekos, but what we do know is that they appeared during the Edo period (17th century to mid 19th century) in Japan and that there are many legends regarding the appearance of these little cat figurines. Maneki Neko figurines come in different sizes; and also colors. Depending on their colors; Maneki Neko cats are told to give different fortunes. Here are what each colored cat gives you:

Calico: is  the traditional color combo, and is considered the luckiest figurine  

White: Gives you happiness, Purity, and the fortune of positive things to come

Gold: Gives wealth and prosperity                                                                                

  Black: is supposed to ward off evil spirits

Red: Gives success in love                                                                                               

 Green: Gives good health

These are very neat and interesting fortunes, another part of the cats that show different fortunes is the arm that which is raised. If the right paw/arm is raised, The cat is handing its owner good fortune/luck and money. On the other hand (no pun intended) If the left arm/paw is raised the cat is beckoning customers to come to a store or restaurant. For the best, if BOTH paws are up, The figure will bring both customers, luck and can represent protection or as a sign of a protector. Things the Maneki Neko cat is holding may also symbolize different things. If the cat is holding an old Japanese coin, It symbolizes wealth. If the cat is holding a small mallet/hammer, this also means wealth. If the cat is holding a fish, it means abundance and luck. If it holds a marble/gem, it means luck. Also these figures wear normally a read collar because during the Edo period in Japan, this was how the rich dressed their pet cats. Over all, these are very, very interesting little figurines.