Beckoning cat Coloring Pages

A Cat That Invites Good Luck

A Beckoning cat is a cat ornament raising one front paw to wave you in.
It is displayed in shops and houses as a lucky item that invites customers and happiness by saying, "Come in, come in!"
Many of them hold a gold coin or wear a bell around their neck.
They are often used on New Year's cards, too.

Right Hand and Left Hand

It is said that a Beckoning cat has different meanings depending on which front paw it raises.
A Beckoning cat raising its right front paw is said to invite money.
A Beckoning cat raising its left front paw is said to invite people and customers.
There are also Beckoning cats raising both front paws, but some people say that is being too greedy!

How the Beckoning Cat Started

There are many stories about how the Beckoning cat started.
At Gotokuji Temple in Tokyo, there is a story that a temple cat waved its paw to save a lord from rain and lightning.
There is also a story that it spread from pottery called Imado ware in Asakusa.
All the stories are the same in one way: the cat brought happiness to people.

3 Coloring Pages

There are 3 coloring pages.
The 1st page is a Beckoning cat raising its right front paw and holding a gold coin.
The 2nd page shows 3 Beckoning cats of different sizes lined up on a shelf in an old-fashioned shop.
The 3rd page is a detailed coloring page for older kids and adults, with Japanese patterns all over the cat's body.
Try coloring it together with the Daruma coloring page and display these lucky items!

Where to Put Your Beckoning Cat

Beckoning cats are often put near shop entrances, cash registers, or house front doors.
It is said that it is best to place them facing where customers and happiness come in.
Some people put small Beckoning cats on desks or windowsills.
Beckoning cats are also given as gifts for the New Year or when a new shop opens.
Color this coloring page and display your very own Beckoning cat!
Some people collect Beckoning cats with different faces and sizes.
It is also fun to look for local Beckoning cats when you travel!

Colors of the Calico Cat

Many Beckoning cat designs are calico cats with a white body and patches of brown and black.
Try coloring the patches with orange, dark brown, or gray.
If you make the collar red and color the bell and coin in gold or yellow, your Beckoning cat will look super lucky!

Each Color Has a Special Meaning

People say that each color of the Beckoning cat brings a different kind of luck.
They say black keeps bad luck away, red protects against sickness, gold brings money, and pink brings luck in love.
It is fun to pick your cat's color to match your wish!

Store Shelves

On the second page, color the shelves brown to make them look like real wooden shelves.
If you color the shop curtain in navy blue or deep red, it will feel like an old-fashioned Japanese store.

Keep Color Count Low for Japanese Patterns

On the third page, your Japanese patterns will look neat if you stick to just 4 or 5 colors.
Using a mix of red, gold, navy blue, and white makes it look happy and lucky.
Pick a color for each part of the pattern before you start coloring.

Face and Whiskers

Leave the Beckoning cat's face white, color the inside of the ears pink, and add light pink to the cheeks to make it super cute.
Trace the lines for the whiskers and around the eyes carefully to make the face look nice and sharp.
Color the coin yellow first, then add ocher around the edges to make it look like real gold.
Don't forget to leave a small white spot on the bell to make it shine!

Beckoning cat Day

September 29th is Beckoning cat Day.
That is because the numbers 9 and 29 can be read as "kuru fuku," which means "good luck comes to you."
Around this day, some towns even hold fun Beckoning cat festivals!

How High the Paw Is

People say that the higher a Beckoning cat raises its paw, the farther it can reach to bring you good luck.
When you look at different Beckoning cat figures, try comparing how high their paws are!

A Real Cat's Motion

When cats wash their faces, they rub their faces with their front paws.
Some people say the Beckoning cat was born because that movement looks just like beckoning someone over.
If you have a cat at home, watch it closely!

Famous Places for Beckoning cat

At Gotokuji Temple in Tokyo, there is a place lined with lots of Beckoning cat figures left by visitors.
Seeing all those white Beckoning cat figures of different sizes lined up side by side is really amazing!
Tokoname City in Aichi Prefecture is famous for making Beckoning cat pottery, and there is a giant Beckoning cat on display in the town.
It makes you want to go and see it, doesn't it?