If you’re a millennial like me, then you might remember watching Catdog on Nickelodeon growing up. Cat was a very fussy guy, always cleaning up after Dog’s messes and suspicious about going outside. Dog was the complete opposite: friendly, naive, and playful. On any given evening, Cat prefers to spend time reading a book while Dog prefers to go out and chase squirrels.

Aquarius really brings out a Leo’s puppy side. They become more enthusiastic and excited to be friends or play. Leo also brings out an Aquarius’s cat side. With Leo, Aquarius becomes more measured and more stability seeking.

I think that the classic Leo and Aquarius dynamic is really cute. Basically, Aquarius is the witness of the zodiac. They are the type who likes to watch and might be reluctant to participate in group activities. Even if an Aquarius shows up to a friend group gathering, they might not speak up or join the game because they prefer to stand aside and watch.

Leo is the exact opposite. Leos love to set the tone. They’re not just joining in right away but often the one to initiate whatever game they want everyone to play together. If you’re at a party, then it’s likely that a Leo invited you. If the Leo didn’t invite you, then they’re going to be the ones who greeted you or welcomed you. Leo is like the fireplace of the zodiac because Leos are the warm bundles of joy that everyone always gathers around.

A Leo loves a good witness because they becomes braver, kinder, and gentler when they have someone who is watching them do their thing. An Aquarius loves a good fireplace because they love to watch fire dance and spin and because they can find their corner without having to take center stage.

Both Leo and Aquarius are fixed signs. You know those kinds of people who always stick around their best friend who they are glued at the hip with? That’s basically Aquarius in a nutshell. Aquarius is the kind of person who is exceedingly loyal to their very best friend. They always have a best friend and, for them, that best friend is a very special type of emotional intimacy that no other relationship can triumph over.

Leo loves this. They love a loyal bitch and Aquarius is exactly that.

As for Leo, Leo doesn’t just have one best friend. Leo has a posse. The reason why Leo doesn’t have just one best friend is because Leo is not a personality who will center themselves around another person. Leo gathers all kinds of people together because Leo is self congratulating enough to be willing to show people who they truly are. When you are authentic, more people like you. A lot of different kinds of people are drawn to Leo for different reasons so Leo ends up gathering a group. To that group, Leo is very loyal.

Aquarius is actually a personality who loves to be around a charismatic and strong best friend because they will step aside to make room for someone else to shine. That’s the watcher for you. Aquarius is the type to constantly encourage, constantly caretake, constantly keep track of someone else’s growth. Aquarius is the type of person who often feels that they know their best friend or their person better than they know themselves. That’s because Aquariuses pay attention outside themselves while Leos pay attention inside themselves.

So, some communication issues: Leo is the warm and loving type. They love to rain down compliments on their friends. Leos will tell you that you’re a genius, that you are beautiful, that you are good hearted and brave. All of these compliments can make an Aquarius very uncomfortable because Aquarius is the type who doesn’t really want to be acknowledged. Compliments make Aquariuses feel very naked and awkward.

On the outside, Aquarius might grin and say “thank you” when you compliment them but, inside, they’re really wincing and trying to figure out a way to change the subject from themselves to something a bit less personal.

Leos also love getting complimented and this is the kind of thing that Aquarius has a very hard time doing. Aquariuses are Saturnians. They simply do not express adoration by telling you why they admire you. In fact, Aquariuses often do the opposite of compliment. Aquariuses love to make snarky little jokes about their loved ones just to test your pride. That’s their favorite way to give you attention because they think that snarky little jokes show that they’re really paying attention to you in all the aspects of who you are. Isn’t that nice? Aquarius has been watching you for so long that they know you just did a silent fart and they’re not afraid to call you out.

On the outside, Leo might laugh with the snarky little jokes that you just made about them but, inside, they might be really mad. On the inside, Leo is trying to figure out a good time to defend themselves from such a thoughtless character attack.

But aside from these communication issues, I think that Leo and Aquarius have a unique tendency to teach each other how to love harder.

The thing is, Aquarius feels really uncomfortable when they are perceived but they should be challenged on that. The reason why Aquarius likes to stay on the sidelines is because they think that they don’t need attention and love. Leo is the sign who will loudly and publicly show Aquarius sincere attention and love. If that makes Aquarius uncomfortable, then so be it. They will adapt and grow.

Leos think that they want compliments but they really just want sincere attention. Aquarius is precisely the person who can give that to Leo, because Aquariuses love to observe other humans and watch for patterns. Leo might think that they want public declarations of love but they really just want someone who will watch out for them. Aquarius, with their quiet observations about Leo’s true habits and patterns, gives Leo a deeper feeling of being paid attention to than almost any other sign.

An Aquarius can make a Leo feel truly known, not just when they are charismatic or friendly but known in their unacknowledged patterns. Aquarius remembers Leo’s old patterns with their mother. They remind Leo of those patterns and they keep score about how Leo has changed. They inform Leo of that change, something that Leo forgot to give themselves credit for. That sense of accountability that Aquarius just has? That’s called deep attention. It doesn’t always make Leo comfortable but it moves them.

It’s not just that Leo is a puppy dog and Aquarius is an old cat and that opposites attract. Leo and Aquarius give each other the type of attention that they need but are often afraid to ask for. They see each other. They keep score of each other. They give one another credit and they also ask for accountability back.