Type the name of the breed you're looking for below
[wpdreams_ajaxsearchlite] Don't see the breed your're looking for? Click here and let us know!
Breed Characteristics
1 paw - breed exhibits the least amount of this characteristic
5 paws - breed exhibits most amount of this characteristic
[fbcomments]
Chinese Li Hua (Dragon Li)
| Origin And History | The eponymous Dragon Li is thought to be a natural self-domesticating breed by way of the wild cat subspecies, Chinese mountain cat (Felis silvestris bieti). While this theory is still somewhat controversial, it has also not been scientifically disproven, and is therefore widely accepted as the origin of this breed within established breeding sources in China. The Chinese character interpretation is based on a legendary description rather than a fully accurate contemporary portrayal of the Dragon Li, and as a result, the breed has been confused with that of the wild fox by the Chinese. For this reason the literal translated characters for Li Hua Mao read as 狸 as in fox(狐狸), 花 for flower pattern, and 猫 for cat. This Chinese character description was and is based on what was believed to be the best interpretation before modern western feline terminology became the standard, i.e. a 'flower pattern' versus a tabby pattern. Although Li Hua Mao is the more prevalent name for the breed in China, more recently, the name Chinese Li Hua and Dragon Li have been utilized internationally to reflect the symbolic nature of China relevant to the mythical Chinese dragon. The Chinese Li Hua is one of the earliest known breeds of domestic cat, and are native to China. They have lived in a wide area of China for centuries, and are mentioned in old books and old pieces of literature. |
| Personality | Their disposition is gentle and easy to handle, and they will live quite peacefully with other cats and other breeds. They are very loyal to their owners, and are smart as well. Zhao Shangzai (1908-1942), a famous character in Chinese history, once trained his Li Hua to fetch the papers. The Dragon Li is valued for its unmistakable intelligence, an uncanny cognizance in relation to its surroundings, and its ability to interact perspicuously with humans. |
Physical Attributes
| Appearance | The breed comes in just a single color, brown mackerel tabby, and should show spectacular color and clarity of pattern. The hairs on the body are ticked, with each hair having a black root, the middle section a lighter color, and the tip of the hair brown. The eyes are large and almond-shaped, with the outer corner slightly higher than the inner corner. Eyes can be green, yellow, or brown, but the green color is preferred. They are a sturdy and well-proportioned breed, and are relatively slow to mature, taking as long as three years. Females are generally smaller than males – females weighing no less than 8 ½ pounds, with males generally weighing over 11 pounds. |
| Health | Keeping such a rare treasure indoors, neutering or spaying and providing acceptable surfaces (e.g. scratching posts) for the natural behavior of scratching (CFA disapproves of declawing or tendonectomy surgery) are essential elements for maintaining a healthy, long and joyful life. |
