Cat (zodiac)

There have been various explanations of why the Vietnamese, unlike all other countries who follow the Chinese calendar, have the cat instead of the Rabbit as a zodiac animal.

[3] Other explanations for the use of the cat zodiac in Vietnam come from oral histories that can be difficult to trace to an original source.

[4] One geographical explanation suggests that Chinese nomads living in the savanna had frequent encounters with rabbits in the wild fields.

In the 2011 Year of the Cat, there was a baby boom recorded due to the association of luck with those born under this zodiac.

Cats are frequently featured in Vietnamese folklore and rhymes, and are often depicted assisting farmers in chasing away rats.

[7] Rice farming is very important to Vietnamese agriculture, and the threat of field rats means cats are a popular animal for farmers.

Another cultural explanation suggests the Vietnamese closely linked the mouse (rat) and rabbit, and didn’t want to observe two similar years.