shamisen
A traditional Japanese three-stringed instrument usually played with a plectrum called a bachi. The occasional association with cats comes from the fact that shamisen skins were traditionally made using dog or cat skin, with cat skin favored for finer instruments.
For the cat from the Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu series, see Shamisen (Suzumiya Haruhi).
For Shamiko's senior, see Lilith (Machikado Mazoku).
The shamisen is derived from the Chinese sanxian.