Origami Lucky Cat Printable Instructions

Oriol Esteve’s Maneki Neko is one of those models that leaves a mark. It’s fun to fold, full of detail, and instantly recognizable. No wonder it’s become a favorite in the origami community. It’s a low-intermediate design, perfect for folders with a bit of experience under their belt. Oriol originally created it as a tribute to Japanese culture, and it was later featured by Makoto Yamaguchi in a compilation book. Since then, the folding sequence has been subtly refined, most recently with help from Japanese artist Kei Morisue, making it even smoother and more enjoyable to fold.

• Designed by Oriol Esteve
• Diagrams by Nick Robinson
• Difficulty: Low
• Number of steps: 45
• Number of pages: 7
• Recommended paper: 6 x 6 in (15 x 15 cm) origami paper (Kami) or 9.5 x 9.5 in (24 x 24 cm) for display
• Folding time: 20-30 minutes

Full step-by-step tutorial with video