Astrology is a useful tool for discerning not only the character of humans but of felines. If you’re lucky enough to know the exact time of your cat’s birth, you can have a more complete astrological chart drawn, but even narrowing down the time to a monthly zodiac sign is helpful.

There’s no question that after 30 years of using astrology with regard to cats, I’ve found it a useful tool for a deeper understanding of how different cat personalities can be. Read on and find out if the description of the Aries cat fits your cat.

Any cat born between March 21 and April 20 is an Aries. Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, is ruled by the planet Mars and is a fire sign. Unlike Pisces, which is the last sign of the zodiac and the “old souls,” Aries are the young souls in terms of karmic evolution. Bold, fiery, and fearless, these are the curious kittens and cats at shelters, poking their noses and paws through cages, impatiently wanting out. They know how to get attention, which is handy in a competitive environment like a shelter. The Aries cat mantra is, “Me, me, me, me, meow. Look at me. Pet me. Feed me. Now!”

Once in their new home, Aries cats will waste no time exploring every nook and cranny like the natural-born leaders they are. In two shakes of a cat’s tail, they’ll scent-mark their favorite spots as mine, mine, all mine in no time. They will enjoy being the boss of a multi-cat household or stay independent enough to be a solo cat. Regardless of any other pets in the home, they want to be front and center and will push their way past the others. When you come home, they will demand to be petted and fed first.

Quick in movement and thought, high-energy Aries spitfires always view play and adventure as a priority. They are super intelligent; if anyone can figure out where the catnip is hidden and how to open the door to it, the Aries cat will. Easily bored, these active cats need creative, interactive play and lots of it. Wand-type toys like Da Bird are favorites, as are laser pointers. Expert hunters, if they don’t have real prey, make sure they get to “catch” the toy mouse or toy to satisfy completion of their hunting instinct.

Red is the Aries color and you may be tempted to buy red toys, but cats don’t perceive colors the way we do. Red and orange are perceived as gray. They can, however, see purple, green and blue, albeit in less saturated tones.

Most Aries cats, especially young ones, can be leash-trained or clicker-trained, and enjoy the fast sport of agility training. As always, there are exceptions to every rule: Never force your cat to walk on a leash if he doesn’t want to.

Aries male cats tend to be dominant and aggressive, enjoying wrestling and maintaining their spot at the top of the hierarchy. The same holds true for female Aries cats, especially if the other cats are male. The Aries female will always rule the roost. These kitties can be impatient princesses. Neither gender is adverse to giving a love bite or scratch. Never use your hands or feet to play with them or you might have a “cat from hell” who likes shredding ankles for a hobby.

If you allow an Aries cat to be indoor/outdoor, please take extra precautions beyond the usual spay/neuter and include microchipping and a visible Smart ID with QR codes like FurCodes for these adventurous, freedom-loving types. (Reminder: National Pet ID Week is April 18 to 24. Better still, cat-proof your garden with screened-in catio or escape-proof fence like Purr… fect Cat Fence.)

The Aries cat tend be more sleek and athletic in shape and will appreciate a high perch to climb up on and survey their domain (which you just happen to occupy). Creating multiple surfaces to climb on using shelves at different heights will satisfy their need to climb and explore. They aren’t especially finicky when it comes to food and are good at cleaning their bowls fast. If they eat too fast, I recommend using slow feeder bowls.

If you’d like a whip-smart, quick-thinking and acting cat who is curious with a capital “C,” the Aries cat, with her single-minded charm, may be your soulmate cat. She’ll have her furry tail curled around your heart in an instant.

If you’re looking to adopt eight-to-10-week-old kittens right now, they would be an Aquarius or a Pisces. To adopt an Aries kitten, you’ll need to wait until mid-May.

More kitty horoscopes:

• Kitty Horoscope: March Belongs to Pisces Cat, a Sweet Paradox
• Kitty Horoscope: February Belongs to Aquarius Cat, the Cool Cat of the Zodiac
• Kitty Horoscope: January Belongs to the Down-to-Earth Capricorn Cat
• Kitty Horoscope: January Belongs to the Down-to-Earth Capricorn Cat
• Kitty Horoscopes: November Belongs to the Mesmerizing, Fiery Scorpio Cat

Learn more about your cat with Catster:

• Weird Cat Facts: 8 Reasons Your Cat Likes to Lick You
• 10 Sounds That Cats Make — and What They Mean
• 8 Things to Try When Your Cat Won’t Eat

About the author: Layla Morgan Wilde is a holistic cat behaviorist, an award-winning writer/photographer and founder of the premier online magazine Cat Wisdom 101. A passionate advocate for cats, she founded the Toronto-based Annex Cat Rescue in 1997. In addition to her blogging at Cat Wisdom 101, she blogs at Boomer Muse and contributes to Petfinder.com and Nordic Spotlight. Wilde is a professional member of the Cat Writers’ Association. She lives in Westchester County, NY, with four cats.