As pet owners, it’s not unusual to wonder how our furry friends got their funny habits. We may ask ourselves why a kitten is so quirky or if we will meld well with a new pet. The answers could be determined by a pet’s date of birth and how astrology affects its character.

An effective way to ensure an easier time raising pets is through understanding what makes them tick and how their basic behavior will evolve depending on their astrological sign. The following shows the basic Sun Sign characteristics of pets.

ARIES YOUR PET: Aries cats and dogs are bursting with energy. Love attention, petting and cuddling and are never shy. Quick tempered, they are not the type to back down from a fight. They are easily embarrassed, so don’t scold them in public. The most difficult aspect of keeping an Aries pet is obedience. May be difficult to housebreak. Firmness, a schedule and repetition is what is needed.

TAURUS YOUR PET: Taurus pets are quiet and passive and the easiest in the Zodiac to train. However, if they are provoked into fighting—watch out! These animals never give up. Are cautious about meeting new people, but when they like you, you are a friend for life. Always remember your “scent”. These animals love to be outdoors, but may prefer sleeping to playing. Are possessive and will guard their food and toys fiercely.

GEMINI YOUR PET: Gemini pets are curious, friendly and loaded with energy. These dogs bark a lot. If possible, get them a playmate; they hate to be alone. Are fast learners and can be trained well. Remember to always keep the door shut, or they will be off in a flash, exploring and looking for new friends. With both people and other animals, Gemini pets rarely have favorites. They love the company of everyone.

CANCER YOUR PET: These little pets are very sensitive creatures and hate to be upset. Do not like loud noise or yelling. Are easily irritated by others and thrive on a calm, stable environment. Any change in routine, or if a stranger is in the house, can cause them to retreat and be gone for hours and even days. Cancer pets are cautious about meeting new people. They do not like sharing the home with any other animals; want your undivided attention. Do not like to be left alone, and tend to become a bit destructive if left alone too long.

LEO YOUR PET: Leo pets feel they are king or queen of the castle. Love a good adventure and will roam as far as you will let them, so each time you go outside with your pet, make it an event. Are born leaders and may soon have a pack of friends following them. Are quite curious and consider nothing off limits. Leo animals love children and make “purr-fect” pets. Are very protective and would gladly give their lives for yours. Have a long memory and tend to have a long life span.

VIRGO YOUR PET: Virgo pets are wonderful companions and make great Seeing Eye dogs. A sixth sense lets them know when you are unhappy or sick, and they are always there to comfort you. They’re shy animals, preferring their own company, and are content to play by themselves. Are reserved and won’t show their affections easily. Don’t expect your Virgo pet to come running to you when you get home, however, they will gladly spend entire evenings lying at your feet or resting their head on your lap. Are fussy eaters; once you’ve found them a good brand of pet food, stick with it.

LIBRA YOUR PET: Libra pets are easygoing and enjoy lots of attention. Like the scales of justice that represent this sign, these pets divide their attention equally among all members of the family. Make wonderful companions and hate to be left alone. Put music on when you leave home and will remain mild mannered with a gentle disposition. Are stubborn at times, and may disappear to sulk. Libra pets will eat just about anything; combine this with a tendency to be lazy, and they can put on a lot of extra weight. Be sure to give them plenty of exercise.

SCORPIO YOUR PET: Scorpio pets are extremely loyal. Kindness shown to these animals at an early age will come back to you for the rest of their pet life. If they are mistreated early in life, gaining trust back will be a long and involved process. Tend to snap or nip if they have been mistreated. Scorpio pets are intimidating to other animals. Rarely will they back down from a confrontation. Are full of pent up energy and need to run around to release it. Keep a close watch on them, however, as they are possessive and have a tendency to fight. (Watch them closely with mailmen or delivery people.)

SAGITTARIUS YOUR PET: Sagittarius pets are the fun-loving clowns of the animal world; are always eager to please. Love the outdoors; be sure to give them plenty of room to roam. If you keep them inside for long periods of time, this tends to break their spirit. Are intelligent animals but lack common sense. Can become quite forgetful when overexcited. Are one of the most loving pets in the Zodiac; expect a face full of wet kisses when you walk through the door. As they tend to be forgetful, you must be firm when you discipline these animals. Don’t worry or be afraid to set strong limits! They will respond well.

CAPRICORN YOUR PET: Capricorn pets stay young forever and tend to act like little puppies or kittens well into old age. Have endless endurance and will play happily for hours on end. Make the best playmates for children. Can be moody and tend to sulk if they don’t get their way. Be patient when training these pets as they tend to be slow learners. Are more than loyal to the family. They are always determined to please and your patience will be well rewarded.

AQUARIUS YOUR PET: Aquarius pets are the comedians of the Zodiac. Are gentle and loving with children and will bark or meow just to hear the sound of their own voices. Are extremely intelligent but unbelievably scatterbrained. You need lots of patience when you train them. Do not obey orders easily and the more you push them, the deeper they will put their paws into the ground. Sometimes these pets don’t want to be cuddled or petted, but remain aloof. Aquarius pets are curious and inquisitive; will literally push their noses into everything.

PISCES YOUR PET: Pisces pets are gentle, peace-loving pets that hate shouting and fighting. Are sensitive to your moods and will plant themselves securely at your side if you are sick and upset. If your Pisces pet needs discipline, be very careful how you go about it. Tend to be quite intuitive and can sense when you are angry or upset. Will stop what they are doing in order to please you. Don’t need a lot of space and are good pets for people living in condos or apartments. You may begin to feel as if you have a “psychic link” with these animals because they can easily pick up on your thoughts. They also love music.

Elizabeth Joyce is an internationally respected speaker, psychic, energetic healer and author of Ascension—Accessing the Fifth Dimension and The NEW Spiritual Chakras. She is based in Doylestown. For more information, call 201-934-8986, email [email protected] or visit New-Visions.com.

April 2017