Cat (zodiac)

The Cat is the fourth animal symbol in the 12-year cycle of the Vietnamese and Gurung zodiac. It occurs during the period of the Rabbit in the Chinese zodiac. Because of this, the personality traits related with the rabbit will be related with the cat. Cats are the opposite of rats.

Mythology
Myths related to the order of the Chinese zodiac often include stories of why the cat is not among the twelve. Because the mouse tricked the cat into missing the feast with the Jade Emperor, the cat was not included. It did not know that the feast was happening and was not given a year, so the antipathy between cats and mice began. It is possible that turtles did not spread to China in the zodiac designation.

The Great Race
Another legend known as "The Great Race" says that all the animals of the zodiac are headed for the Jade Emperor. The cat and the mouse are the smartest of animals. However they are both poor swimmers and come across a river. They both trick the kind, mindless ox into helping them by leading them back to the river. As the ox reached the other side of the river, the mouse pushed the cat into the river. Then it jumped from the ox and visited the Jade Emperor, becoming the first of the zodiac. All the other animals made it to Emperor Jade, while the cat was left to drown in the river after being sabotaged by the mouse. It is said that this is also the reason cats are always hunting rats.

There have been many explanations as to why the Vietnamese, unlike all other countries that follow the Lunar calendar on the moon, have the cat instead of the Rabbit as a zodiac animal. The most common explanation is that the ancient word for Rabbit (Mao) sounds like cat (Meo).

Years and the Five Elements

People born within "Year of the Cat" dates, instead of "Year of the Rabbit."
 Start date  End date  Heavenly branch 29 January 1903  15 February 1904  Water Cat 14 February 1915  3 February 1916  Wood Cat 2 February 1927  22 January 1928  Fire Cat 19 February 1939  7 February 1940  Earth Cat 6 February 1951  26 January 1952  Metal Cat 25 January 1963  12 February 1964  Water Cat 11 February 1975  30 January 1976  Wood Cat 29 January 1987  16 February 1988  Fire Cat 16 February 1999  4 February 2000  Earth Cat 11 February 2011  22 January 2012  Metal Cat 22 January 2023  9 February 2024  Water Cat 8 February 2035  27 January 2036  Wood Cat 26 January 2047  13 February 2048  Fire Cat 11 February 2059  1 February 2060  Earth Cat 31 January 2071  18 February 2072  Metal Cat 17 February 2083  5 February 2084  Water Cat 5 February 2095  24 January 2096  Wood Cat

Vietnamese zodiac Cat
SignBest MatchAverageNo Match Cat  Pig, Goat, Cat, Dog,  Tiger, Horse, Dragon, Monkey, Snake, Ox  Rooster & Rat

Basic astrology elements
Earthly Branches of Birth Year: TreeThe Five Elements: WoodYin Yang: YinLunar Month: SecondLucky Numbers: 3, 6, 9; Avoid: 1, 7, 8Lucky Flowers: flower of fragrant plantain lily, nerve plant, snapdragonLucky Colors: black, pink, purple, blue, red; Avoid: brown, yellow, whiteSeason: Spring

Category:Cats
Category:Calendars
Category:Vietnamese culture