Cat Lovers' Japanese Gifts & Homeware
Every home is better with a cat in it, even if that cat lives on your rice bowl. Our cat lovers' collection gathers Japanese beckoning cat mugs, black cat teapots, calico rice bowls and kawaii cat stationery, curated in Brisbane for cat lovers who like a little good fortune with their morning tea.
Every home is better with a cat in it, even if that cat lives on your rice bowl. Our cat lovers' collection gathers Japanese beckoning cat mugs, black cat teapots, calico rice bowls and kawaii cat stationery, curated in Brisbane for cat lovers who like a little good fortune with their morning tea.
Shop by favourite: Mino-yaki cat ceramics | Lucky cats | Kitchen, home and car | Stationery and kids | FAQ
Mino-yaki Cat Ceramics from Gifu Prefecture
The heart of the collection is Mino-yaki, the porcelain of Japan's Mino region in Gifu Prefecture, a pottery tradition with roots going back around 1,300 years. Mino potteries make a large share of the tableware used in Japanese homes, and their cat designs are a quiet favourite: everyday pieces with a little personality painted on.
Meet the cast. The Black Cats parade around a teapot, mugs and a rice bowl. Hachiware, the black and white cat with the split face, curls up on a 10cm side plate. Mike the calico cat, Tiger, Miche, Butti, Marobi and Hanauta each have their own plate or bowl, while the Miau Nyanmonite side plate turns a sleeping cat into an ammonite spiral. Mix characters for a table that feels collected, not matched.
Looking for a ready-made present? The Black Cats 2 Mug Gift Set, the Five Beckoning Cats small plate set and the Beckoning Cat Donburi Bowl set are put together as gift sets, so the hard part is done for you.
Maneki-neko: The Meaning of Japan's Beckoning Cat
The maneki-neko, or beckoning cat, has welcomed visitors to Japanese shops and homes since the Edo period. One popular legend traces it to Gotoku-ji temple in Tokyo, where a cat's waving paw is said to have called a passing lord in from a storm.
- Right paw raised:invites money and good fortune.
- Left paw raised:invites people, customers and friendship.
- Calico:the classic colourway, thought to be the luckiest of all.
- Black:believed to keep bad luck away.
- White: happiness and purity.
- Pink and red: love, and good health.
Our beckoning cat mugs, sake set and serving plates bring that welcome to the table. For a housewarming or a new business, the Seven Lucky Cats Treasure Boat is a playful take on the Seven Lucky Gods sailing in with the New Year.
Cat Lovers' Kitchen, Home and Car
Cats get into everything, so we let them. K Factory's scalloped plates (Night Sky, Tumble and Laundry Day) are little illustrated scenes for cake, toast and snacks. Friendshill, a small Japanese brand making handmade goods with genuine character, adds a Neko Manju apron and a White Cat A4 tote. From the mofusand world come heat-conducting dessert spoons and the SameNyan chopsticks and spoon set, starring a cat in a shark suit. Round it out with a cats tea towel, the Nemu Nemu hot water bottle for winter nights and an ALACAR laptop sleeve for the desk. Cats even come along for the drive: Livheart's Yuzu the Mikecat car neck cushion, a sleepy calico with soft velvety ears, straps onto your headrest to support your neck on long trips.
Kawaii Cat Stationery and Gifts for Kids
Small in size, big on personality. The PuniLabo Stand Pen Case by LIHIT LAB stands upright on a desk as a calico or black cat. Add an embroidered cat bookmark, Golden Foil schedule stickers or cat and dog Vertical Washi Tape, plus a few playful extras for younger cat fans.
How to Choose a Japanese Cat Gift
- For the tea lover:the Black Cats Teapot with a matching mug.
- For a housewarming or new business: a beckoning cat mug or the Seven Lucky Cats Treasure Boat for luck at the door.
- For ramen and rice nights:the Happy Cat Ramen Bowl or a Beckoning Cat Donburi set with chopsticks.
- For students and desk workers: a PuniLabo cat pen case and washi tape.
- For a small thank you: a 10cm Mino-yaki cat side plate, perfect for soy sauce, sweets or rings.
FAQs
The maneki-neko is Japan's beckoning cat, a good-luck figure shown with one paw raised. A raised right paw is said to invite money and good fortune, a raised left paw invites people and customers, and many Japanese shops keep one by the door.
Mino-yaki is the porcelain of the Mino region in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. This collection also includes cat-themed pieces from other brands, so each product page lists its confirmed country of origin.
Care instructions are listed on each product page. As a general rule, we recommend hand wash pieces with gold or overglaze details and skip abrasive scourers, so painted cats stay bright for years.
Cats have been loved in Japan for centuries, from the maneki-neko to the country's famous cat islands and cat cafés. Black cats in particular are widely seen as lucky in Japan, which is why they turn up on so much everyday tableware.
Choose something they will use every day. A cat mug, rice bowl or small plate brings a smile at every meal, while a beckoning cat adds a wish for good luck. Gift sets are an easy choice when you are not sure of their style.
Yes. We dispatch Australia-wide from our Brisbane warehouse and ship to New Zealand via Australia Post International, with shipping calculated at checkout."
