Cancer

Cancer Friendship Compatibility

Cancer's Friendship Style

Cancers may turn down the first invite you give them. They may even turn down the fifth. But once they finally say yes, know that you may have found a real friend. While Cancers, like their spirit animal the Crab, are known for their thick outer shell, trust that the standoffishness is all an act. Get a bit below the surface, and you'll find that a Cancer is all feelings. Because of that, they tend to protect themselves in public, and until you really get to know them, they're likely to answer any friendly "How are you?" question with a curt "Fine."

The good news is once Cancer has your back, you have a friend for life. One of the most nonjudgmental signs of the Zodiac, Cancer will always listen and sympathize with you-even if you did make a pretty big mistake. Cancers aren't interested in petty drama, either, and they won't share your business with other people unless you give them explicit instruction that it's okay.

Cancers love deep conversations, but they also have pretty firm boundaries around "their" time. Don't be offended if they turn down an invite-chances are, they truly need the downtime. And Crabs can be possessive-especially of the friends they love. If they don't like your other friends, they may turn prickly. But hear them out. Cancers have an excellent sense of people's true colors, and there may be a good reason they want you to stay away from someone.

Best Friend Match for Cancer: Pisces

Both water signs, Cancer and Pisces share a deep emotional bond that feels almost psychic at times. Pisces understands Cancer's need to talk out emotions for hours, and the two of them can have deeply cerebral conversations. Pisces also can help draw Cancer out of his or her shell (at least a bit!), and the two can have their share of adventures exploring the world together. Pisces also recognizes Cancer's need for alone time, and doesn't take offense if Cancer doesn't return calls or texts for a few days.

As a team, Pisces and Cancer can get a bit too intense, but the good news is that both signs excel at drawing out each other's silly, playful sides. Making sure both signs have plenty of ways to decompress-seeing funny movies, trying aerial yoga classes, exploring a new town-can dial back the intensity.

How to Make Friends with a Cancer

Be persistent. Cancers aren't interested in filling their contact list with mere acquaintances. Cancer is impressed by people who wear their true colors on their sleeves, and hates anything that seems like networking. If you're interested in a Cancer only to access his or her social circle, forget about it! Sincerity goes a long way for the Crab. And if a Cancer does agree to have coffee with you, save the date, be on time, and be ready to get honest-this sign hates small talk.

How to Stay Friends with a Cancer

Listen. Still waters run deep with this sign, but they won't often share what's going on below the surface. When they do reveal their emotional life, it's a big deal, and it means they consider you a part of their inner circle. Listen to them, remember key players, and ask questions. Check-ins are also key. Cancer loves the phone (and prefers voice over text), and giving the Crab several chances to share what's going on in his or her life will ensure that you'll move beyond that standard "I'm fine" response and get the real deal.

3 Reasons Why Cancer Make Great Friends

1. Intelligent Cancer will tell you exactly what's going on in any situation, providing spot-on analysis of everything in your life, from personal relationships to political developments.
2. Creative Cancer always has a unique perspective on the world. This sign is your go-to for book and playlist recommendations, and loves talking through what a work of art actually means, rather than just stopping at "Did you like it?"
3. Cancer always has your back. Even if you don't feel like you have a grip or you're being hard on yourself for something, Cancer will tell you all the ways that you bring joy and love into the world.