A Russian bank now lends cats to house buyers

Today, in the pretty weird news section: a Russian bank has started lending cats to customers who take out mortgages to buy a house. It seems to be some sort of incentive, also based on a Russian superstition about cats bringing good luck to a new home.

I was almost ready to get angry about giving away animals like they were a gift pen, but then I realized the homeowners can only keep the cat for two hours, and they must promise not to harm it. Knowing this it seems to me a pretty funny and cute way to motivate house buyers!

One sentence struck me, though: "They must sign an agreement [...] freeing the lender from responsibility for any possible catastrophe." Do you think they mean catastrophes caused by the cats? That would be great foresight!

Here's the source article

What an interesting article ! I am amazed that someone would come up with this idea, but i can see where it makes sense, and would work out great for superstitious people. If they don't already have a cat of their own, and believe that having a cat in the house will indeed bring them good luck, then this is a perfect solution !
As long as the cats didn't run out of the door and escape and become lost; it is probably not a bad thing for the cats either. They probably choose cats with an easy-going personality to use for the cat-loans; and two hours gives the cat plenty of time to stroll throughout the whole house and bring luck to it.
And if the new homeowners don't want to have a cat, then this solves the whole situation of the cat-blessing easily, without them having to find their own cat.