There are many stories about how the Chinese Zodiac was created and this is one interpretation:
Once upon a time, the cat and the rat were good friends, every day they would play together, everyday they would eat together, and life was very happy. One day, the Lord of Heaven told the God of Earth : "I feel that the way we calculate the years is really uncomfortable, so I think I’ll hold a competition for crossing the river between the animals, the first animals to arrive at the finish line will make up the new 12 years calendar". The God of Earth listened, gathered all the animals and published the news.
All the animals wanted to participate. The black cat said : "I’m afraid of the water and I can’t swim, what should I do?", the water ox said : "I can’t see very well and I can’t tell the direction, how will I cross the river?", the little rat listened and then told the water ox : "My brother ox, I will be your guide, and you will help me cross the river, okay?". The ox thought about it and then agreed.
The competition started and so the cat and the rat rode on the ox. When the ox arrived half way, the cat pointed at the other side of the river and said : "Look! They still haven’t crossed the river, I’m sure I’ll be the first in the competition". The cat didn’t even get to finish his sentence, when the rat walked on him from behind and pushed him off, and the cat fell into the water. The rat laughed and said : "Oh, so sorry, my brother the cat. You can continue swimming slowly… now I’m definitely the first!".
The ox didn’t pay attention and continued to swim, and arrived at the end point. The little rat jumped of the ox to the shore and ran happily towards the finish line, seeing that the others still aren’t there…
The ox ran and arrived second. Next was the tiger, the little rabbit quickly followed, the dragon came from within the clouds and announced : "I’ve arrived". As the horse arrived at the finish line, a snake suddenly appeared from the grass, making the horse and the sheep jump in horror. The monkey, the chicken, and the dog quickly ran to the finish line. The competition was about to end.
The Lord of Heaven said : rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, chicken and the dog are the 11, who’s going to be the last one? At that moment, a very fat pig came running in and announced : "I’m starving!".
The Lord of Heaven was about to announce the 12 winning animals, when the black cat arrived, asking : "what number am I?". The Lord of Heaven replied - "I’m sorry, you got here too late, and you can’t be part of the Zodiac". The cat replied in anger - "That’s all the rat’s fault, I will never forgive him".
From that day forward, the cat wants to bite the rat, and so the rat fears the cat. The rat hides from the cat all day, and comes out only in the evening.
