Dragon Li
{{short description|Breed of cat}}
{{Infobox cat breed
| name = Dragon Li
| image = Dragon Li Cat named Pipi.jpg
| imagecaption =
| altname = Chinese Li Hua
{{lang|zh-Latn|Líhuā māo}} ({{lang|zh|貍花貓}})
| nickname = Chinese Fox Flower Cat
| country = {{CHN}}
| fifestd =
| wcfstd =
| cfastd = https://web.archive.org/web/20150107010249/http://www.cfainc.org/Breeds/BreedsCJ/ChineseLiHua.aspx
| ticastd =
| gccfstd =
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| acfstd =
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| note =
}}
The Dragon Li is a recently established Chinese breed of domestic cat (also called Chinese Li Hua or China Li Hua as a standardized breed, depending on breed registry). It was developed from a common landrace of cats in China, known as {{lang|zh|貍花貓}}, Pinyin: {{lang|zh-Latn|líhuā māo}}, literally 'leopard cat patterned cat' (sometimes shortened to {{lang|zh|花貓}} {{lang|zh-Latn|huā māo}} or {{lang|zh|貍貓}} {{lang|zh-Latn|lí māo}}); the native cats are featured in some Chinese folklore stories. The derived standardized breed is recognized by China's Cat Aficionado Association (CAA), and was for a time by the US-based, international Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA), later revoked.
Physical characteristics
The Dragon Li displays a golden-brown, broken-mackerel (also known as broken-striped) tabby pattern; distinctive ear tipping; large round almond shaped luminescent yellow/green eyes; and a strong full bodied stature reminiscent of its wild nature.{{cn|date=March 2024}}
Origin
{{more citations needed|section|date=April 2021}}
The Chinese character interpretation is based on a legendary description rather than a fully accurate contemporary portrayal of the {{lang|zh-Latn|lí hua māo}}, and as a result, this cat had been confused with the wild fox by the Chinese. For this reason, the literal translated characters for {{lang|zh-Latn|lí hua māo}} read as {{lang|zh|貍}} referred as 'Common raccoon dog'; {{lang|zh|花}} from {{lang|zh|花纹}} for 'pattern', referring to raccoon patterns; and {{lang|zh|貓}} 'cat'.
Li hua mao is the prevalent name for the original variety in China. More recently, the names Chinese Li Hua and Dragon Li have been used internationally for the standardized breed. The dragon is a potent symbol in Chinese folklore, standing for power and good luck.{{cite book |last=Barrett |first=Timothy H. |title=The religious affiliations of the Chinese cat: An essay towards an anthropozoological approach to comparative religion |publisher=School of Oriental and African Studies |location=London |date=1998 |url=http://sun.sino.uni-heidelberg.de/cgi-bin/acwww25/regsrch.pl?wert=bl18%5CxC2.b37+1998&recnums=72821&index=7%3A&db=kat |isbn=0-7286-0288-1 |access-date=2009-01-27 |archive-date=2020-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313234112/http://sun.sino.uni-heidelberg.de/cgi-bin/acwww25/regsrch.pl?wert=bl18%5CxC2.b37+1998&recnums=72821&index=7%3A&db=kat |url-status=dead }}
Popularity
The Dragon Li debuted as an experimental-class standardized breed in Beijing, China, in January 2004{{cite web |first=Barb J. |last=Belanger |title=Cat Aficionado Association: The Show – January 1, 2 and 3 |date=2005 |via=Members.Shaw.ca |publisher=self-published |url=http://members.shaw.ca:80/bjbelanger/China.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070430032756/http://members.shaw.ca/bjbelanger/China.htm |archive-date=2007-04-30 |access-date=31 July 2018 }} Zero of the numerous Internet Archive captures of this site saved all of the photos on it, but they can all be recovered by looking at different saves on different dates. All-breed Judges Dolores Kennedy and Barb Belanger of the American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA) were guests of the Cat Aficionado Association (CAA) and judged the event. There were four of these pedigreed Dragon Li in the United States {{as of|2017|lc=y}}.{{cite episode |url= http://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/cats-101/videos/chinese-li-hua/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141228063125/http://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/cats-101/videos/chinese-li-hua/ |url-status= dead |archive-date= December 28, 2014 |title=Chinese Li Hua |series=Cats 101 |publisher=Animal Planet |via=AnimalPlanet.com |access-date=16 October 2017}}
In 2005, a male specimen named Needy, presented by its owner Da Han, was shown and won its class as first place CAA champion. The event was judged by John Douglas Blackmore of the ACFA. Needy was then "married" to a breeding partner in an elaborate mockup of a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony, attracting some press coverage.{{cite web |title=本土纯种狸花猫办婚礼 |language=zh |trans-title=Native pure-bred racoon cats' wedding |date=4 January 2006 |work=029Pet.com |url= http://www.029pet.com/Html/cwjw/154200450.html |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081120141250/http://www.029pet.com/Html/cwjw/154200450.html |archive-date=20 November 2008 |access-date=31 July 2018}} In February 2010, the Li Hua was accepted for showing in the miscellaneous class by the international (US-based) Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA). Since gaining international recognition, and due in part to its limited availability, the Dragon Li / Chinese Li Hua has now become of interest to cat fanciers internationally.{{cite book |last=Chen |first=Hui-wen |title=The Mythology of Cats |publisher=Baihua Literature and publishing house |location=China |date=2005 |url=https://archive.org/details/maodianyiluokuan0000chen |isbn=7-5306-4362-2 |url-access=registration |language=zh}}
The Chinese literary legend "The Cat for Crown Prince Conspiracy" ({{lang|zh|狸貓換太子}} {{lang|zh-Latn|Lí Māo Huàn Tài Zĭ}}) utilizes a {{lang|zh-Latn|lí hua māo}} as its central theme{{Citation needed|reason=There is no reason to show that the cat in 狸貓換太子 is the breed Dragon Li|date=November 2024}}.
File:Dragon Li Named Taiga 20150828.jpg|A Dragon Li indoors
File:Dragon-Li curling up in the corner of the sofa - Feb.3, 2022.jpg|A Dragon Li with more muted markings
File:Dragon Li Named Taiga2 20150829.jpg|A Dragon Li kitten
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Portal|China|Cats}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20150107010249/http://www.cfainc.org/Breeds/BreedsCJ/ChineseLiHua.aspx Breed Profile Web Page- The Chinese Li Hua - In CFA (Cat Fanciers' Association)]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20141225011451/http://www.cfainc.org/Portals/0/documents/breedcouncil/2014-ChineseLiHua.pdf Chinese Li Hua Standard Modification 2014 - In CFA (Cat Fanciers' Association)]
- [http://messybeast.com/breeds-d.htm The Messybeast.com Cat Breed List]
{{Domestic cat}}