Pisces pets and their owners: who's a cosmic match?

Pisces pets match most easily with water and earth owners: Cancer, Scorpio, Taurus and Capricorn. A Pisces cat or dog is gentle, dreamy and quick to pick up on how you feel, and those four signs give them both the understanding and the steady ground they need. The other signs can be wonderful matches too, with a little care for a Pisces' softer side.

Pisces pets are born between 19 February and 20 March, ruled by Neptune (Jupiter in traditional astrology). A Pisces dog abandons the ball halfway across the park to sniff a flower; a Pisces cat sits in the empty bath after you've got out, gazing up at nothing in particular. Both are tuned in to the mood of the room.

Water owners: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

Cancer owner (easy): you make the nest, and a Pisces moves straight in. Expect a Pisces cat burrowed into the laundry basket you were about to empty, or a Pisces dog asleep with their head on the cushion you meant to sit on.

Scorpio owner (easy): you keep watch, and a Pisces is happy to let you. A Pisces dog falls asleep mid-game with the toy still in their mouth, knowing you'll put it away; a Pisces cat dozes off sitting up, swaying, right beside you.

Pisces owner (twins): you share the same faraway look. You'll both stop at the window to watch the rain, and neither of you will remember why you got up.

Earth owners: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

Taurus owner (balancing): you have one favourite spot on the sofa, every evening, and a Pisces pet learns to be in it first. Calm, warm and very slow to get going in the morning: on both sides.

Virgo owner (opposites): you keep the days on track, and a Pisces makes sure some of them drift. A Pisces dog stops to sniff every flower on your carefully timed walk; a Pisces cat curls up in the fruit bowl the moment you've emptied it.

Capricorn owner (balancing): your routine is a safe harbour. A Pisces pet brings softness to it, the chin resting on your knee while you work, and you make sure dinner arrives on time.

Fire owners: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius

Aries owner (odd couple): you move fast and a Pisces drifts. You're at the park gate while your Pisces dog is still back at the first puddle, gazing at their own reflection. Slow down once, and you'll find the gentlest companion you've ever had.

Leo owner (odd couple): you love an admirer, and a Pisces pet gazes at you as if you hung the moon. The Leo basks, the Pisces adores, and both think they got the better deal.

Sagittarius owner (tricky): in traditional astrology, Pisces and Sagittarius share Jupiter as their ruler. You both love to wander, in body or in mind, which makes for long, meandering walks where nobody's in a hurry, and nobody's quite sure of the way home.

Air owners: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius

Gemini owner (tricky): your busy, talkative home can be a lot for a quiet Pisces. A Pisces cat will listen to the chatter from inside a cardboard box; a Pisces dog will drift to the quietest room and wait for you there.

Libra owner (odd couple): you're gentle and kind, and a Pisces responds to it. Say their name softly and a Pisces cat starts to purr from across the room; a Pisces dog rolls over before you've finished the sentence.

Aquarius owner (odd couple): you're original and a Pisces is imaginative. You won't always understand each other, but a Pisces cat gazing up at a bare patch of ceiling is exactly the kind of mystery an Aquarius enjoys.

Pisces pets with other pets

Pisces pets are usually easy-going housemates. They share beds, toys and sunny spots without much fuss, and often become the calm one in a lively home. They're happiest with gentle companions who won't take advantage of their good nature.

Pisces dogs and Pisces cats as partners

A Pisces dog shows love by bringing a favourite toy over on the days you seem low, or laying a paw on your arm when you're glued to your phone. A Pisces cat shows it by following a few steps behind you from room to room, then curling up behind your knees once the lights are out. Both are, in their own way, quietly looking after you. Find out whether yours is a Pisces in the dog zodiac signs or cat zodiac signs guide.