A friendly feline at a temple in China has been dubbed the “high-five cat” because of the way in which it raises its paw to greet visitors. - Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin
BEIJING: A domesticated feline at a temple in China has been dubbed the “high-five cat” because of the manner in which it greets tourists who are flocking to the site seeking good luck.
The moggy, which wears a gold chain, greets tourists by raising its paw to meet the palm of people’s hands.
Xiyuan Temple in Suzhou, eastern China, is a cultural Landmark known for its stunning gardens and traditional Han Buddhist architecture. It dates back to the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368).
With numerous stray cats roaming the grounds, the temple has been described as a “cat petting paradise” by visitors. The entrance fee is just five yuan (70 US cents) per person.
A recent video of a cat outside the temple entrance went viral on mainland social media, racking up more than 120,000 likes.
In the clip, a black and grey cat wearing a gold chain sits on a stone pillar, high-fiving every visitor as they pass by.
A visitor to the temple pets the hard-working cat as it takes a break from high-fiving. - Photo: Douyin
Tourists have flocked to the temple just to interact with the cat, hoping for good luck. In Chinese folklore, cats are considered lucky symbols, often depicted with raised paws to attract wealth.
A tourist surnamed Zhang said that she has visited the cat for three days in a row.
“Sometimes you have to wait half an hour to high-five it, but it is totally worth it because it is so healing,” said Zhang.
Staff at Xiyuan Temple said the cat is not a stray, but a pet brought by a visitor.
“Since the cat is outside the temple, we cannot manage it,” the staff said.
The cat’s owner, surnamed Liu, introduced it as Jellybean, a lively four-year-old that loves going outside.
Liu often takes Jellybean to sunbathe in the plaza outside the temple at the weekend, where a group of pet lovers gather to interact.
He told the mainland media outlet Dahe News: “Jellybean has ear mites, and after applying medication, its ears become wet and need to be dried by the sun.”
After the cat gained fame, Liu began live streaming on social media in response to the tourists’ love and attention.
On March 1, some online viewers noticed the cat was less eager to high-five visitors, joking that Jellybean might be “on strike”.
“Maybe the cat is thinking, ‘You humans just want high-fives, but I am getting shoulder pain’,” one person joked.
Critics suggested Liu might be overworking the animal for online traffic, but Liu defended the level of love and care he shows the feline, saying the lifestreaming is meant to document Jellybean’s growth, and is not for commercial gain.
“We always take good care of Jellybean. Sometimes its facial expressions may look like it is ‘grumpy’, but that is not the case,” he added.
Concerned about the crowds, Liu plans to stop taking Jellybean to the temple for a period, fearing the attention might harm the cat.
Xiyuan Temple staff have also advised tourists not to buy cat treats from nearby shops, as many are unbranded and of low-quality.
Last summer, several stray cats at the temple fell ill and died after being fed such poor-quality “treats”. - South China Morning Post
