‘Lucky kitty’ charms restaurant patrons in Xi’an

While statues of ‘lucky cats’ are fixtures at restaurants throughout China, very few can boast having a real one that shows up for work every day.

But that’s what the owner of a Xi’an restaurant surnamed Yang said about an orange cat that arrives every morning as he opens his doors.

“I’ve been feeding her for two years and 10 months. She comes every day and we have an understanding,” Yang said.

The cat is often found sitting on a chair outside the entrance, complete with a sign that reads zhaocaimao, or “Lucky Money Cat,” and a plastic bowl for donations from passers-by.

Video clips show people young and old stopping on the sidewalk to pet the locally famous feline.

Popular in East Asia, Lucky Money Cats are considered charms that are believed to attract fortune – their one raised paw beckoning wealth.

This cat collects up to 40 yuan ($5.7) a day, said Yang, who uses the money to buy her food and fish, which the cat then takes it to feed her kittens.

While the cat does provide a draw to the restaurant, Yang said it’s all just for fun.

“I have never thought about trying to make money off of her, that’s not right,” Yang said.

The feline has proven to be a hit on Sina Weibo, where users joked the orange cat resembled Garfield and may share the cartoon character’s notoriously big appetite.

“There’s a risk that restaurant will go bankrupt,” posted Weibo user “Claapper.”

“I also run a restaurant and adopted a cat. It is very fat now and eats a lot every day,” wrote “manhuajia.”