Once, the Jade Emperor announced a race for the twelve places in the Chinese zodiac. All the animals had to cross the river to win the race. The rat and the cat were best friends. They hatched a plan to ride the might ox and win the race. They both climbed on the ox and joined the other animals in the race to cross the river. But the rat moved hastily and the cat fell down. The ox kept running in front, unaware of the rat on top.
The rat jumped off when they had crossed the river to become the first animal of the zodiac. It was followed by the ox, the tiger, the rabbit, the dragon, the snake, the horse, the goat, the monkey, the rooster, the dog and the pig. The cat, however, reached too late and missed the race. That is why there is no zodiac named after the cat and the cat always hates the rat.
