Is ‘robo-cat’ hidden on 100-yuan note?

A story about six feline-looking shapes surrounding the image of Mao Zedong on the 100-yuan note has been like catnip to Web users, who claim they can see the images hidden within the note's geometric patterns.

Currency collectors, meanwhile, have suggested Web users paws for thought when suggesting that the note's design has hidden felines.

On one of the photos posted online, three cat shapes were clearly outlined: The central figure is a robot-looking cat, with two others seemingly kneeling either side.

"It's really cute to discover the cats on both sides of Chairman Mao's head," a Web user said on Sina Weibo. Others are asking who designed the creative pattern.

"It's impossible for a country to put cartoon-like figures in money design, which is a very serious thing," said Huang Wei, a collector from the Huaxia collection website. Huang examined the uploaded photo, and found that details had been added to make the designs more cat-like.

It looks like a mixture of ancient pattern and modern cartoon, Huang speculated, however he said only a few people, who participated in the note design can explain what the pattern means.

"The watermarks, used to prevent notes being counterfeited, are State secrets," he said.

"Even though the government has recalled the first, second and third generations of banknotes, they have never revealed the meanings of the watermarks in the old notes," Huang said.

The People's Bank of China yesterday said they will make an official announcement on the cat-like markings today.