5 Cancer Spirit Animals that Perfectly Represent the Zodiac Sign

cancer spirit animal
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Loren Elara

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There are a number of traits astrologers look for when discerning a zodiac sign’s spirit animals.

For Cancer, some of the traits we are looking for in a spirit animal are:

  • sensitivity
  • intuitive ability
  • self-protectiveness
  • nurturance
  • empathy
  • tribalism

In this post, we’ll dive into the top five spirit animals we’ve uncovered that perfectly suit the Cancer Zodiac sign.

Do you think you or the Cancers in your life match up energetically with the animal descriptions below?

Let us know in the comments at the end of the post.

Related: Who is Cancer’s Soulmate Sign?

1. The Crab

cancer zodiac spirit animal crab

The first cancer spirit animal is a well-known symbol of the sign – the crab. It’s not hard to draw comparisons between cancer people and crabs.

They’re both homey (think of the hermit crab carrying his home wherever it goes). And they’re both quick to retreat into their safe spaces at any sign of danger.

Cancers are also notoriously moody, and even though they have a great heart and the best intentions, they can also get quite crabby.

When it comes to potential dangers, neither Cancer nor the crab wants anything to do with it. They’re too fragile and sensitive for inherently threatening experiences. So they both have a lot of protective mechanisms in place to thwart dangers.

While the crab has a hard outside shell to protect its squishy insides, Cancer creates her shell through psychological armoring and numerous emotional coping mechanisms.

Crabs and cancers are also incredibly protective of their family and dependents. They know how to put on a brave face when their family is in danger, even though they’re shaking with fear themselves.

And then there’s the clinginess. The gripping ability of the grab provides the perfect metaphor for how cancers hold on to other people and situations. They like to keep a tight hold on what they love and struggle to let go.

Read More: Why are Cancer People So Good in Bed?

2. The Rabbit

white rabbit on grey concrete floor

The next Cancer spirit animal we have is the rabbit. Like Cancer, Rabbits have hyper-sensitive, emotional, and shy dispositions. 

Rabbits, like Cancers, prefer to nurture and don’t like to cause trouble for the people around them. They both take extreme care of those close to them, especially their family.

Cleverness is another trait rabbits and Cancers share. Both use their hyper-awareness and sensitivity in creative and clever ways. They both fear situations that make them feel defenseless or overwhelmed, so they do what they can to best navigate them.

There’s a lot more to their personality than meets the eye, too. Rabbits and Cancers are both complex creatures with big hearts. 

Related: Why are Cancer People So Attractive? 

3. The Elephant

elephant walking during daytime

The elephant is another highly sensitive and emotionally intelligent animal that possesses deep wisdom and intuition, just like Cancer.

Elephants are compassionate and empathetic. They are very aware and tuned in to their own feelings and the feelings of those around them. 

Elephants display a unique similarity to humans in how they feel and process a multitude of emotions. They experience anger, pain, compassion, love, grief, fear, and joy just like humans. They’re notorious for being able to hold a grudge. “An elephant never forgets”

While they can hold on to hurts, elephants also hold on to others in compassionate ways, too. Like Cancer, an elephant easily recognizes when another elephant is in distress and quickly works to console them through touch and attentive focus.

Elephants also have a hard time letting go, just like Cancer. Loss hits them hard; it’s not unprecedented for elephants to die shortly after a mate does due to grieving a broken heart.

Related: Are Cancer People Loyal Partners?

4. The Opposum

While opossums might not have the best reputations, they’re a much cuter and more sensitive marsupial than most people realize.

Opossums are a great spirit animal match for Cancer due to their fondness for close, devoted relations, as well as their wide breadth of emotional expression.

Opossums are quite tuned in to emotion. They can be very kind and caring while also being short-tempered and ruthlessly tenacious.

Like Cancer, opossums know how to adapt to their surroundings. They cope well and are versatile, which is impressive due to their innate sensitivity and vulnerability in the wild.

And when the world feels overwhelming, opossums know how to retreat into themselves, just like Cancer. They can be quite solitary when they feel shy.

But when they do feel cuddly, they cuddle hard. People who’ve sheltered opossums can all attest to how attached they become to them, wanting to cuddle and nuzzle with their protector constantly.

The last major point of similarity between opossums and Cancers is their self-protective nature. Opossums have a unique coping mechanism in the face of threats where they play dead. Cancer, too, will often employ a freeze response when under threat in an effort to protect itself.

Read More: What Sign is the Best Match for Cancer?

5. The Woodpecker

Last on our list of Cancer spirit animals, we have the woodpecker. 

Why does the water sign Cancer have a bird as its spirit animal? It comes down to the woodpecker’s caregiver qualities.

Woodpeckers are astute nurturers and highly adept parents. Some of the best in the avian animal kingdom. They’re highly protective and create great homes.

And of course, just like Cancer, there’s a lot of emotionality at the root of the woodpecker’s disposition. These birds are feisty and sensitive. They pair bond for life and can get very triggered around romantic issues, in particular infidelity. 

Related: Which Zodiac Sign is the Best?

Conclusion

There you have it, five animals that we could consider spirit animals to the sign of Cancer.

Of course, there are some other animals that fit the Cancer spirit mold, too – the moody but loyal moose, the affectionate, bonding-oriented penguin, and the territorial and caregiving chimpanzee, for example.

What do you think about the animals listed in this post? Do they resonate with you or the Cancer people in your life? Let us know in the comments below!

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Loren Elara

Hi, I’m Loren. Welcome to Popular Astrology. You can learn more about me and this website here.

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