Pouncing cat ceramic figurine vintage probably Japan excellent condition cm1409

Must be a mouse somewhere just beyond where the cat's front paws have landed. For sure the cat has just pounced on something. The pose, tail and eyes say it all. Rats! It got away.

The figurine is made of white ceramic, decorated in taupe under glaze. All details are also under glaze. The cat is 3 inches high and 3.5 inches tail to nose. It is old, probably mid century, and has age crazing but no chips or cracks. It has a tiny blow hole from the firing on its belly.

This cat is part of a cat collection I recently purchased. The previous owner marked them as to who where and when. This one was purchased on 8-31-86. I got it at an antique show in Lititz, Pennsylvania.