The cat is the fourth animal symbol in the 12-year cycle of the Vietnamese zodiac, taking place of the rabbit (zodiac) in the Chinese zodiac. Cats are "smooth talkers", talented and ambitious and will succeed in studies. They are in conflict with the rat. A cat person has a supple mind and patient personality and knows how to wait for favorable conditions before taking action. Cat hours are between 5am-7am, when cats begin their prowling." [1]
Said to be free of stress, the year of the cat may have been the inspiration for an album and song by Al Stewart titled "Year of the Cat." [2]
The cat was left out of the Chinese Zodiac because according to legend, the Rat tricked the cat into missing the banquet.
In Popular Culture
In the manga/anime Fruits Basket, Kyo Sohma transforms into the cat of the zodiac. There are many things about Kyo that make him easily recognizable as the cat, including his orange hair which spikes when he gets angry, his discomfort around people he doesn't know, and the fact that he always his shirts unbuttoned and loose at the neck, much as real cats hate wearing collars.
- ^ "The Vietnamese Zodiac". http://www.xanga.com/dJ_phAmtOm.
- ^ "Year of the Cat". http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=3526. "The title comes from Vietnamese astrology. The Year of the Cat is also called the Year of the Rabbit... It comes every 12 Years and it is supposed to be a stress free year."
"Fruits Basket character profiles". http://www.tokyopop.com/product/1194.
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