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Why cats chase rats

The Chinese Zodiac


Story
By. Zehan
Hawa

A Long times ago the


Jade Emperor invited the
entire animal kingdom to
partake
in
a
tremendous race! The
first 12 animals able to
cross the river, would be
assigned to a year of the
Chinese zodiac system in
order of appearance and
have a year named after
them.

All the animals were very excited


and the news spread rapidly. On the
day of the race all the animals
gathered at the bank of the river

Cat and Rat where


the best of friends,
the kind of friends
that spends almost
every waking hour
together. Both were
very excited about
the news of the great
race and immediately
started to make plans
to cross the river.

Cat and Rat were both


very good at sleeping,
and were afraid they
would oversleep and
miss the start of the
race.
They
asked
their
friend Ox to make
sure they woke up on
time, and Ox agreed.

The day of the race arrived, and Ox


got to Cat and Rats house bright and
early. He pounded on the door with
his mighty hoof, but no one
answered. He bellowed in the
window, but no one answered.

Finally he pushed the


door open with his
strong shoulders and
went to the bedroom
to find Cat and Rat.

The two lazy animals were so deeply asleep that


nothing Ox did would wake them up! It was
getting late, and he was afraid that he would
miss the start of the race so he picked up Cat
and Rat and put them on his back.

The race began and Ox ran as fast as he


could, carrying Cat and Rat on his back. If
he could get to the finish line first, all
three of them could be part of the Zodiac!

Well all the bouncing


around finally woke up
Rat. He looked over at
Cat, still fast asleep,
and got an idea. If Cat
was awake, there was
no way he could beat
her in a race. She was
way too big and fast!
Instead, he gave Cat a
shove and pushed her
right off Oxs back!

Cat sure woke


up then, having
rolled right into
the river! She
splashed
her
way out and
watched as the
racing animals
sped past her.

As Ox neared the finish


line, Rat climbed up onto
his head. Just before Ox
crossed the line to
become the very first
animal in the Zodiac, Rat
jumped as far as he
could jump and managed
to beat Ox across the
line! This is why the Rat
is the first sign in the
Chinese Zodiac and Ox is
the second.

So the 12-year cycle of the Chinese Zodiac


begins with the rat. After him comes the ox
who is followed by the tiger. After them come
the rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat,
monkey, rooster, dog and pig, in that order.

The Cat, it must be noted, has no place in the


zodiac. He wasnt among the first twelve.

Cat never forgave Rat for pushing her off


Oxs back and into the water.

She was devastated and furious at


the same time and swore to hate Rat
forever.

That is why Cat chased after Rat


and cats all over the world nowadays
still do.

The End

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