Maneki Neko, Japanese waving lucky cat as a piggy bank.

The lucky kitten (Japanese: 招き猫, maneki neko) is one of the most common talismans in Japan. The original Japanese name is maneki neko, which literally means "beckoning cat". Lucky kittens raise their left paw, right paw, or sometimes both. The meaning of this differs per country and location. The common belief is that the raised left leg brings in customers, while the waving right leg brings good luck and wealth. Lucky kittens with a waving left paw are also placed at the entrance of cafes and their 'mirror image' at shops. The higher the raised leg, the greater the happiness. Lucky kittens are usually made of ceramic and modeled after the Japanese stump-tailed cat. They usually wear a collar with a bell and a bib around their neck, an imitation of the attire of cats in wealthy households during the Japanese Edo period (1603-1868). Some models hold a coin called a koban, which depicts great wealth. The color of the kitten has a (positive) meaning, such as financial happiness (gold), happiness in love/marriage (pink or red), good health (green), cleanliness (white)