My initial impression of 招き猫 is: One, it is a symbol of Japan; Two, it is like a fengshui tool. Many shop owners will place one near their cash registers.
But actually 招き猫 grants wishes. And not just those related to wealth.
So what's the story behind a 招き猫? There are actually 3 versions on the English wiki and 4 versions on the Japanese wiki. (0