Tama the "Super Stationmaster," in her hat cocked at a rakish angle, has become a sensation. used to live a simple life hanging out at the train station next to her home at the grocery store.
But with the addition of a hat, usually worn at a jaunty angle, she's become a local, national and even international star.
Tama's home of Kishikawa in Japan is an isolated town of just a few thousand people, the last stop on what had been a failing train line.
That all changed when the Wakayama Electric Railway decided to use Tama as a mascot.
They called her a "Super Stationmaster," made a promotional poster for train carriages and gave her that stationmaster's hat.
Now tourists flock here to see the cat and to snap a picture. Video Watch Tama greet passengers at the station »
"It's a chance to take a break from the problems facing Japan," said Haruto Maeda, who took the day off work to see Tama.
As well as their cameras, visitors are bringing their cash. A study at Osaka University found that Tama fever was responsible for pumping $10 million into the local economy.
Tama now lives full-time at the station,