In traditional Chinese culture and folk customs, there are indeed sayings about the compatibility or antagonism between the Chinese zodiac signs and raising cats. Although modern science does not support these claims, understanding these traditional views can be quite interesting. After all, besides scientific care, peace of mind is also important when raising pets. According to some feng shui and folk traditions, cats belong to the "Yin" branch in the twelve earthly branches and are of the Wood element in the Five Elements theory. Therefore, zodiac signs that clash, punish, or harm "Yin" are considered not very suitable for raising cats. Overall, the following zodiac signs are traditionally thought to not get along well with cats:

The Three Zodiac Signs Cats Most Avoid? Traditional Sayings Come Here

In some circulated sayings, a few zodiac signs are specifically named as unsuitable for keeping cats. These ideas mostly stem from the traditional zodiac conflict theory, which holds that certain zodiac signs’ energy fields do not harmonize with the cat’s "Yin" Wood attribute, possibly impacting the fortunes of the owner or the cat.

• People born in the Year of the Monkey: Tradition says the Monkey and Cat (Yin) have a "Yin-Shen clash" relationship. This clash may indicate instability and frequent changes. Thus, monkey people raising cats are believed in traditional views to experience unstable fortunes or difficulty getting along with their cats, leading to friction. As the saying goes, "one mountain cannot hold two tigers." Though cats aren’t tigers, the concept of this clash remains important to some.
• People born in the Year of the Snake: The Snake and Cat (Yin) may have a "Yin-Si harm" or "Yin-Si-Shen triple punishment" relationship. "Harm" and "punishment" in destiny studies are not auspicious terms and may signify mutual obstruction, increased troubles or unfavorable factors. For those born in the year of the Snake, raising a cat might be believed to affect career luck and increase misfortunes. Of course, this is just traditional lore; in reality, snakes and cats rarely "harm" each other!
• People born in the Year of the Dog: Another saying holds that dog people are not very suitable for keeping cats. This is mainly from the zodiac conflict perspective, believing there might be disharmony between cat (Yin) and dog (Xu). Dog owners might experience emotional fluctuations and irritability, which could worsen with a cat. However, there are also views that dog people are suitable cat owners; this issue remains debated.

Besides these three signs, some say that people born in the Year of the Rat are unsuitable for cats because cats and rats are natural enemies. It is believed that rat people raising cats will weaken their luck and attract troublemakers. Others believe tiger people raising cats have more romantic or workplace rivals, but some also say tiger people suit cats since tiger and cat belong to the same family and share similar temperament, which can enhance luck. Evidently, the "clash" theories between the zodiac and cats are not entirely consistent, and different viewpoints abound.

A Complete Guide to Zodiac Taboos Every Cat Owner Must Know: The Customs in Traditional Culture

Over thousands of years of Chinese culture, our feelings and symbolism toward animals have been abundant. As beloved companions, cats naturally come with various folk customs. Though these customs lack scientific basis, they are interesting as cultural phenomena.

• Cats and the Twelve Earthly Branches: As mentioned earlier, cats correspond to the "Yin" branch, belonging to the Wood element. Understanding this is fundamental to various zodiac taboos.
• The Five Elements and Zodiac Signs: Traditional destiny studies assert that each zodiac corresponds to a Five Elements attribute, which interact through cycles of birth and control: Wood generates Fire, Fire generates Earth, Earth generates Metal, Metal generates Water, Water generates Wood; meanwhile, Wood controls Earth, Fire controls Metal, Earth controls Water, Metal controls Wood, Water controls Fire. Given the cat’s Wood attribute, we can deduce which zodiac signs may conflict through Five Elements interactions.

According to this chart and the Five Elements controlling theory, Wood controls Earth, so people born in the Year of the Ox, Dragon, Goat, and Dog may need to pay attention based on traditional views; Metal controls Wood, so Monkey and Rooster people might also be advised to be careful.

• The Symbolic Meanings of Cats: In traditional culture, cats are not just cute companions; they have many "hardcore" functions and symbolic meanings.
  • Expert Mouse Hunters: The earliest reason for keeping cats was to catch mice! Ancient records contain many accounts of cats catching mice, serving as guardians of grain and books. Song dynasty literati often expressed gratitude to cats for protecting treasured books, even writing poems to praise them.
  • Home Protection and Wealth Attraction? As the saying goes, "Dogs protect the yard, cats guard the house," cats—especially black ones—are believed in some areas to ward off evil and protect homes. There is even belief that "green-eyed black cats ward off evil, golden-eyed black cats attract wealth." In rural areas, cats are mostly for controlling mice, yet the home protection belief is widespread.
  • The "Cat Slave" Culture of the Song Dynasty: Speaking of raising cats, the Song Dynasty was the peak of "cat slave" culture. The Song people were meticulous about cats, even having a custom called "accepting cats" akin to a marriage ritual, writing invitation letters, sending betrothal gifts, and choosing lucky dates to bring cats home. Cats were no longer just for hunting mice but treated as pets and family members, given names, sleeping, eating, and playing with them—so extravagant it’s almost "French." Even Emperor Zhao Gou of the Song Dynasty demoted an heir because of a cat, showing the special status of cats then.

Rational View of Zodiac Taboos: Scientific Pet Care Is Key

Though traditional culture contains many sayings about the zodiac and cat-raising, we should be rational. Modern science has found no evidence of a necessary link between the zodiac and raising cats. Success in raising cats mostly depends on the cat’s personality, living environment, the owner's caregiving, and the interaction between human and cat.

Scientific Tips for Raising Pets:

• Understand Cat Habits: Every cat has a unique personality, some lively, some quiet and clingy. Before deciding to keep a cat, learn about different breeds’ traits and choose one suitable for your lifestyle.
• Provide a Good Environment: Offer a safe and comfortable living space, including litter boxes, scratching posts, beds, toys, etc. Ensure the home environment is safe and free from hazards for cats.
• Balanced Diet: Provide nutritionally balanced cat food and adequate water. Adjust diet according to age, weight, and health of the cat.
• Regular Check-ups: Take cats to the vet regularly for vaccinations and deworming, and monitor their health.
• Patient Companionship: Cats need owners’ company and care. Spend time playing and interacting to build strong bonds.

Setting aside zodiac taboos without scientific basis, raising cats is a joyful and heartwarming experience. No matter your zodiac sign, if you truly love cats and provide good living conditions and care, you can become a qualified "pooper scooper" and enjoy the happiness cats bring.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: Are there really "Three Zodiac Signs Cats Most Avoid"?
  A: This mainly originates from traditional feng shui and folk sayings, naming Monkey, Snake, and Dog as less suitable for keeping cats. But modern science lacks evidence to support this.
• Q: Why do traditions say some zodiac signs aren’t suited to keep cats?
  A: It’s mainly based on the zodiac’s Five Elements clashes, punishments, and harms with the cat’s "Yin" attribute—for example, Monkey and Yin clash; Snake and Yin harm or punish each other.
• Q: Can cats truly protect the home and attract wealth?
  A: This is a folk belief especially about black cats warding off evil and attracting wealth, but it has no scientific foundation.
• Q: Besides zodiac, what else should be considered when raising cats?
  A: More importantly, consider the breed traits, your lifestyle, living environment, and whether you have enough time and energy to care for a cat.

In conclusion, zodiac taboos reflect traditional culture, which we can understand but should not blindly believe. Caring for animals and practicing scientific pet care are what truly matter.