# Cat

猫 neko

![Cat](https://www.furoshiki.com/motifs/neko.svg)

Cats protected stores from mice and are linked with luck and wealth (see maneki-neko); a popular playful modern motif.

Cats arrived with Buddhism from China, traditionally to guard sutras from rats

Cats are said to have come to Japan with Buddhism to protect scriptures from rats, so many early cat stories are tied to temples. From the Kamakura period tales appear of cats turning uncanny, and the Edo period was the high point of bakeneko (monster-cat) stories, alongside the lucky maneki-neko. Cats were also a favourite subject of Edo prints.

Cats are now a hugely popular, playful motif on furoshiki, tenugui and goods.

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Source: https://www.furoshiki.com/motifs/neko/