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Do you.
By Emily Ratay — Written on May 29, 2018
Are you a cougar, trophy wife, or some where in between? Some women love the idea of dating an older man, and others dream of a man that can keep their hearts young and alive in a relationship. That's why you'll sometimes see a woman with a guy who is old enough to be her father, and a woman who is a cougar and proud of it.
When you think of your ideal partner, you probably have a list of a few traits that you’d like him to have that define you as one or the other, and yes, there are some women who prefer a man who is close to her age, but there's something intriguing about sharing your life with someone who is a bit further on either side of the spectrum.
For example, a sense of humor, intelligence, the ability to make you blush and give you butterflies, even after dating each other for a long time.
You might even prefer someone who’s taller than you, has an athletic build or even dyes his hair cool colors. But what about age? Even subconsciously, you might be attracted to men who are younger or older than you, rather than guys who are the same age as you.
This preference might not necessarily be something you actively look for in a new partner, but if you look at your past boyfriends, you might notice a trend. Each zodiac sign has their own preferences and needs when it comes to finding the ideal guy for them.
And even if you don’t say you’re more drawn to younger or older guys (although some horoscopes are more vocal about it), the things you look for in a partner tend to speak to your age preference, as well.
For example, if you’re a horoscope who tends to be more independent and mature for your age, you’re probably more attracted to older men because they have more experience and can appreciate your need for intelligent conversation and a more mature relationship. Or you might be a zodiac sign that is always looking for the next exciting activity and you want a partner who will break the rules with you.
Since younger guys are more often associated with carefree rebellion and don’t care as much about settling down as older men, you might be drawn toward guys who are younger than you. Whether we know it or not, we’re really just looking for a partner who will bring out the very best in us.
So, age preference might not be at the top of your list of priorities for your man, but it definitely helps to date the guy who’s the right age for you – no one wants to have to feel like they’re babysitting a younger man or can’t keep up with an older one!
And if you sometimes feel like you just can’t connect with any guy you meet, maybe you do need to start only dating a certain age and see if that helps.
But first, you need to know which man is right for you. Here are the cougars of astrology who prefer dating younger men vs. the ones who love older men, according to astrology, ranked from most likely to be a cougar, to those who prefer dating men their own age vs. an older man.
1. CANCER (June 21 - July 22)
Cougar.
Cancer, you’re all about those relationships that are built on a nurturing foundation. You are most drawn to younger men because it means you have a chance to take care of them. In fact, you sometimes even date so young that you’re considered a cougar. You’re the kind of partner that will cook for your man, give him endless affection, and completely devote yourself to your relationship, thanks to your nurturing personality.
To you, a relationship should be something you devote yourself to 100 percent. The reason you like dating younger guys so much is because you find it much easier to devote yourself to someone who is still growing and learning in love, just like you are. You know that someone who still makes mistakes won’t fault you for your own mistakes, whereas older men might expect you to be someone you’re not just for them.
RELATED: 7 Secrets You NEVER Knew About Cougars (As Written By One)
2. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20)
Cougar.
Taurus, you are a naturally protective and loving partner, so dating younger guys is just something that comes naturally to you. You like the thought of being able to protect someone you love and hold him close so that your love can blossom and thrive in the caring environment you’ve built. When you date, you hope that your partner looks up to you with admiration and love in his eyes always.
You also like the thought of being able to teach your partner new things. If you date someone your own age or even older than you, there’s really nothing you can teach them that they probably don’t already know. Dating a younger man gives you an opportunity to be a teacher in love, life, and romance. You might not admit it to yourself, but you like to think that you’re knowledgeable about a lot of things – and you want someone who will appreciate that about you.
3. ARIES (March 21 - April 19)
Cougar.
Aries, you’re not an immature zodiac sign in the slightest, but you are a bit impulsive. When you date, you have a tendency of falling head over heels in love before even really getting to know the person yet. When you date men who are older than you, it makes you feel like you need to take your excitement for life and love down a few notches, which bums you out big time.
Dating younger men is more your speed because they are more likely to want to join you in doing exciting, yet sometimes impulsive and dangerous, things. Having a partner you can count on for fun and one that excites you is much more appealing than being in a relationship with someone older who is looking for something more serious. You want a young love that will make your heart beat fast and make you see the world through rose-colored glasses.
4. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21)
Cougar.
Scorpio, you want something intense and fiery when it comes to dating and relationships. You don’t really mind dating people your own age, but you definitely prefer dating younger guys who are always ready to go at it with you and don’t find PDA immature or gross. You need someone who is just as passionate and into the relationship as you are.
Whenever you think about what it would be like to date someone older than you, you can’t get past the idea that it’s probably pretty boring long enough to even try it. With someone younger, you can be wild and crazy with one guy or a lot of guys at once without having to worry about settling down. A lot of young guys prefer to keep things casual and don’t want to talk about getting serious right away, so you feel safer emotionally and much more comfortable around them.
5. GEMINI (May 21 - June 20)
Same age.
Gemini, you’re most attracted to men your own age. When it comes to dating, you want things to be as easy as possible, which means you don’t want to have to work extra hard just to get on your guy’s level. If the relationship isn’t immediately fun and easy, you’re not interested. You’re looking for your twin flame – someone who has the same views on dating as you, is patient when you’re hot and cold, and brings a flirty dynamic to the relationship.
You enjoy dating guys who are part of the same generation as you because you feel like you have much more in common with them. You will most likely meet these kinds of guys online while browsing Tinder or checking out what’s new on Instagram because you’re all about making that connection, and it’ll be easy for you to kindle a new relationship from there. Plus, you’d rather date someone who understands your generation and its dating preferences than date someone older or younger than you where there’s already a disconnect.
6. LIBRA (September 23 - October 22)
Same age.
In order for you to really feel like you have a connection with someone you’re dating, Libra, you need to be able to relate to them. If you can’t see yourself in your partner, then the relationship is probably not going to last. For that reason, you can’t date younger OR older men; it’s either someone your age or no one at all.
If you date someone younger than you, you’ll always feel like you’re moving too fast for him. If you date someone older, you’ll feel like you’re being rushed into committing. You need to find that perfect balance in everything in your life, including your love life. Dating guys your own age means you’re giving yourself the best chance to find a love you’re happy with – and you’ve never been one to give up an opportunity like that.
7. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21)
Same age.
Sagittarius, you look for a best friend in your partner – there’s something very comforting to you about having a partner that can be a best friend, a lover, and someone you can commit to. So, when it comes to the perfect age, you tend to date guys who are the same age as you. If you think of your partner as your BFF, you’re going to want a BFF that’s close in age to you, right? I mean, how else are you supposed to bond over things?
Love is a learning curve for you. You don’t have time to either teach someone else or learn from someone about love. You get bored by dating easily, so you need someone who can hold your attention and actually make you excited about being in a relationship. When you feel comfortable being yourself around your partner, you know you’ve found the right one. Younger and older guys just bore you and make you feel very un-Sagittarius-like.
8. LEO (July 23 - August 22)
Loves an older man.
Love needs to be fiery and passionate for you, Leo. It also needs to be full of gifts and worship in the bedroom. And no one pampers a gorgeous thang like you quite like an older man does. Your only caveat is that he can only be a little older than you – nothing more than five or six years your senior. You want a partner who will knock your socks off in bed, but still have that protective, stable nature about him.
You also like the fact that dating an older guy will attract attention, whether that’s from friends asking where you found this man or from other attractive, older men you’d also be interested in dating. As a sophisticated, mature zodiac sign, you like dating above your own age because it means you get to stimulate your mind and be with someone who respects and appreciates your refined nature.
9. PISCES (February 19 - March 20)
Loves how an older man is her caretaker.
Pisces, nothing is more romantic to you than knowing you have someone who loves you and will protect you from everything bad that happens in life. Just knowing that you can come home to someone big and strong, yet gentle and kind, at night is like a dream to you. That’s why you’ve always been drawn to older guys – there’s just someone inherently secure about them that gets you writing your own love story in your head.
You also don’t want to admit this, but you can be a little immature at times. Whether it’s when you’re dealing with life or you’re thinking about your relationship, you can be a little hard to handle when you don’t get your way. Having a partner who’s older than you is like having a knight in shining armor swoop in when you need him most. In other words, your ideal relationship.
10. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22)
Loves to date older men.
Virgo, you’re the kind of person who doesn’t really have time to deal with someone who isn’t all in when it comes to dating you. When you look for the perfect partner, he needs to be able to check off everything on your wish list, no excuses. You would much rather stay single than date frogs until you find your Prince Charming. This is why you’re more attracted to older guys – you don’t have the patience to deal with youngbloods.
You also know that the older the guy is, the more mature and confident he is in making a commitment. You already know what you want in a relationship – you always have. So, dating someone who also knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to take things to the next level is refreshing to you. You’ll even date a decade or so out of your age range – hey, as long as you get what you’re looking for, bring it on!
11. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18)
Loves to date an older man.
Dating is kind of a pain in the butt to you, Aquarius. You don’t really like being in a relationship anyway because you’re worried you’ll have to split the second your man gets clingy, but that doesn’t mean you don’t try to make it work. When you are in a relationship, you date, and almost exclusively prefer, older men over younger guys or guys your age.
You like the fact that older men have already had their fill of immature, naïve partners and you like to think of yourself as someone capable of having a serious relationship like an adult better than a lot of people your age. You’re also very independent, so you need someone who will respect your need for freedom and alone time. Older guys are definitely better partners for this dynamic, rather than younger guys who need constant reassurance that you’re not ghosting them… sigh.
12. CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19)
Loves dating older men.
Capricorn, I don’t think you’ve ever dated younger men before, have you? You are also one of the more mature zodiac signs and you need a partner that’s exactly the same. Relationships are able growing with someone and investing in something important. You will not tolerate dating someone younger than you because, more often than not, it just turns into a headache for you.
You’d even date someone so much older than you that you could be considered a trophy wife. You don’t care! You'd be a good trophy wife anyway. You just want a strong, lasting relationship with someone who sees the value of commitment just as much as you do. If you know you can count on your partner to stick it out with you through thick or thin, people can call you whatever they want. You still get the man and the perfect relationship, so you win (no matter how much older he is than you).
Emily Ratay is a full-time writer living in Pittsburgh. She's passionate about the environment and feminism, and knows that anything is possible in the right pair of shoes. She plans on writing a non-fiction book in the future.