Chinese Li Hua Cat Breed Information

Group

Short Haired

Weight

4-5.4 kg

Length

30-35 cm

Lifespan

8-12 years

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About the Chinese Li Hua Cat

Reviewed by:

Dr. Charlotte Francesca Stiles

Veterinarian

It’s hard not to instantly fall in love with this handsome cat breed, especially for its beautiful coat and fierce independence. The Chinese Li Hua cat is a breed that has a long history that certainly spans back to ancient China.

The breed, despite its long history, is still a cat breed that’s favoured by many modern cat owners. Just like many of the designer pooches that have been created for the Insta-scene, these older breeds are still beloved by many.

Considering a Chinese Li Hua for your family this year? This guide should hopefully provide a wonderful insight into a breed that’s steeped in rich history and is a well-respected cat in its home country of China.

What Is the History & Origin of the Chinese Li Hua Cat?

Traced back to the Xiang Dynasty, the Chinese Li Hua is considered to be one of the earliest breeds of domestic cats. This cat is also known as the Dragon Li, the Li Hua Mao and the Fox Flower Cat. Beautiful nicknames for a beautiful cat breed that make great companions for any humans who are fans of the breed itself.

This cat was first shown in Beijing back in 2003, and in 2010, it was accepted into the Cat Fanciers Association’s Misc. class.

These cats are featured in some Chinese folklore stories, and as a rare cat breed, they are sought-after by many first-time cat owners.

What Is a Chinese Li Hua Cat Breed?

The Dragon Li is one that’s surprisingly muscular. They have a head that’s diamond-shaped, which is only right, seeing as they are such elegant-looking cats. With a broad chest and long legs, they’re a force to be reckoned with!

Rounded paws make them easily agile enough to move swiftly around the home, and in general, they have a wonderfully loyal and independent temperament that suits busy households who aren’t always around.

Who Is a Chinese Li Hua Cat Best For?

As an independent breed, they’re best suited for those that are looking for a cat breed that is going to be content on its own. However, they’ll do just as well if their owners are around all the time.

If you’re looking for a lap cat, though, this breed isn’t it. As independent felines, they’re much more prone to going off on their own and spending time in their own company than with you – no offence!

What Does a Chinese Li Hua Cat Look Like?

A unique feature of the Dragon Li is the small black mark at the upper corner of its mouth, which gives them the appearance of smiling. This is how you can spot a Dragon Li and differentiate it from other similar looking breeds. Its leopard-looking coat is what makes it stand out, and it has a lower-body that is brown/yellow.

Coat

This cat breed’s coat is thick with short-haired and is described as being mousey in texture and appearance.

Colours

As a standardised breed, the Dragon Li can only be found in a single colour; brown mackerel tabby. It’s a beautiful colour that many cat lovers appreciate. They have a mixture of eye colours, with the common being green; they also often have brown or yellow eyes.

Patterns

Again, like the colour, the only pattern you get with the Dragon Li is a brown mackerel tabby.

Chinese Li Hua Cat Grooming & Shedding

With the Dragon Li, expect to be doing daily grooming in order to remove any shedding that this cat can produce regularly. As they have a short and fine coat, it’s easy enough to groom them, even if you don’t have any experience of owning a cat previously.

Cats will often groom themselves several times of day, but daily grooming from you as their owner is going to help minimise the number of hairballs they cough up. Most cats will enjoy being groomed, especially the Dragon Li.

How Do Chinese Li Hua Cats Behave? A Look at Their Temperament and Personality

The Li Hua cat is an intelligent breed that is loyal to its owners and any of the immediate family it spends time with. They like a combination of indoors and outdoors exploring, so a larger space is best suited for these cats. Make sure, though, that you create safe outdoor environments to avoid them being stolen or going missing.

They’re an active breed, so they are likely to be kept busy. You’ll find that the males have quirky personality traits whilst the females are more composed.

Living Needs

Dragon Li’s are easy enough to housetrain and get along with other family pets, including cats and dogs. They like a combination of indoors and outdoors exploring, so a larger space is best suited for these cats.

Make sure, though, that you create safe outdoor environments to avoid them being stolen or going missing.

What Are Common Habits and Activity Levels of Chinese Li Hua Cats?

The Dragon Li loves to have playtime indoors and out. As cats like to mimic their natural predatory instincts, they’ll want to be kept occupied with activities and mental stimulation like interactive cat toys.

Habits

Give them plenty of space to roam and time to play as well as lots of attention. A natural environment that’s going to give them a great balance of this is the perfect home for this type of cat.

Activity level

The Dragon Li has a fairly active nature, which means if you’re an active household that stays indoors, then this cat breed will be perfect. However, if you’re out for most of the day, then you might want to consider other cats.

Vocalness

Luckily, if you’re after a cat that has a fairly low vocalness, then this Chinese cat breed is one to consider. They’ll very rarely let out vocal sounds and will prefer to quietly purr when being brushed or stroked.

What Is the Weight, Height, and Size of a Chinese Li Hua Cat?

The Dragon Li is one that is considered an ideal cat for most homeowners. Here are some helpful insights into the cat’s height, weight and body size.

Height

This cat stands at around 30 to 35cms tall on average, which is pretty much the same for a lot of cats this size. Its body length is around 30 to 40cms on average.

Weight

The weight of this cat is around 4 to 5.4kgs, so light enough for most people to be able to pick up.

Size

The Li Hua is considered a medium-sized cat, which is perfect for most.

Are Chinese Li Hua Cats Easy to Train?

Training your Dragon Li cat is one that won’t take much effort in comparison to training dogs, for example. They’ll want to be socialised early on so that they get along with most animals and humans you introduce them to.

They’re able to pick up house training fairly easily but be sure to give them as much attention as you can, along with patience when they don’t quite get it right the first few times.

Does the Chinese Li Hua Cat Have Any Common Health Issues?

Vets recommend vaccinating your pet and treating them for parasites.

It’s also always good to keep up with regular health checks from a veterinarian to help diagnose any problems early on.

What Is the Lifespan of a Chinese Li Hua Cat?

As a cat breed, despite their good health, they don’t have the longest average lifespan in comparison to other felines. However, there’s still plenty of time that they have on earth to enjoy making memories. Their average lifespan ranges from eight to twelve years.

How Much Does a Chinese Li Hua Cat Need to Be Fed?

You must be feeding your cat a healthy diet. Most cats, including this breed, will need two measured meals a day to avoid overfeeding.

Daily playtime is needed for this cat, so as long as the food is measured correctly, they should get enough exercise to balance their food intake.

How Much Can You Expect to Pay for a Chinese Li Hua Cat in Australia?

As one of the oldest breeds in China, they do have a higher price tag than some cat breeds; however, it’s not to the extent that some designer dog breeds can be. They are a rare breed to come by, so it’s something that you might struggle with if you’re in parts of the world where there are few breeders of this cat.

You’ll expect to pay around $1,000 for a kitten from reputable breeders.

Chinese Li Hua Cat FAQs

Are Chinese Li Hua cats prone to separation anxiety?

If you were to leave these fox flower cat breeds alone, then they are most likely to become stressed and destructive. As a companion breed, they do suffer from separation anxiety, which means you want to ensure you’re around for most of the time to look after them and provide attention.

Are Chinese Li Hua cats hypoallergenic?

Unfortunately, the Li Hua mao is not a hypoallergenic cat due to the amount of dander it produces. If you’re someone that suffers from allergies, then you’ll certainly want to avoid this cat breed when adopting or buying one.

Can Chinese Li Hua cats adapt to different climates?

The Dragon Li is highly adaptable, and therefore when it comes to different climates, they certainly fare well regardless of the weather. As long as they’re provided with plenty of water and shade, they should be fine.