Virgos could be regarded as the most natural of pet owners since, in the Great Wheel of the Zodiac, the sign of Virgo rules all domestic pets - including cats, dogs, mice and rabbits - while your ruling planet Mercury also rules dogs.

Your conscientious and caring nature makes you ideally suited to looking after animals of all kinds - although you won’t be over-demonstrative in your affections. And since you are unlikely to take kindly to scratched furniture or muddy carpets - your sign is closely linked to cleanliness - you will happily go to whatever lengths are necessary to train your pets properly and methodically.

You certainly won’t spoil them, and will teach your dogs to be obedient and your cats not to sharpen their claws on the armchairs. You will ensure that they follow an appropriate diet, banning unsuitable snacks. And you will be assiduous about both their physical and emotional needs. Your naturally high expectations will bring out the best in your animals, but you do need to be careful not to expect more of them than they are able to deliver.
Choosing the right pet is vitally important for Virgos who frequently lack balance in their lives. Your need for fresh air and love of walking makes dogs an obvious choice.

The popular and gentle Shetland sheepdog, otherwise known as the ‘Sheltie’, is very much a Virgo dog. Its inherent shyness and lack of self-confidence means that some Shelties need to be regularly taken out in public from puppyhood, to acclimatize them to people and noise. Shelties are highly intelligent, make noisy guard dogs and go to anxious lengths to round up humans into a neat flock when out walking.
Cat-loving Virgos should consider owning a tortoiseshell, a retiring cat which loves being outdoors and is meticulous about grooming itself. Quiet and frequently timid, tortoiseshells are ideal for families without children.

Netherland dwarf rabbits are also suitable for Virgos with gardens since they enjoy fresh air and need space to exercise. These gentle rabbits are sociable once they relax although they scamper speedily away from anything which appears threatening. For that reason they are not ideal with very young children. They are often kept as house pets and can be house-trained.

A pet mouse is another option for Virgos with limited space. Among the smallest of all pets, mice are easily tamed. They are industrious, constantly in motion, sociable and communicative with other mice - often in ultrasonic squeaks. They are also easy to keep and breed.

The suggestions above are merely guidelines and in no way suggest that there is only one breed or type of pet which is suitable for any one Zodiac sign. And it is, of course, essential to know everything there is to know about buying and keeping any pet before taking it home.