Neko-gami refers to cat spirits venerated within Japanese folk belief, often associated with the supernatural bakeneko and nekomata traditions in which long-lived or deceased cats were thought to gain spiritual power. In certain regions and shrines, cats came to be honored through memorial rites and small shrines, reflecting their historic role as household protectors, particularly valued for guarding silkworms and grain stores from rodents. These beliefs are localized and vary by community, forming part of a broader folk tradition of venerating animal spirits rather than a unified doctrinal cult.