"Dragon Li Cat named Pipi" by Painjet is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

How many cats look like leopards? The Dragon Li breed is considered descended from the Chinese Mountain Wildcat. Although it has been visible in Asia for centuries, it has only been purposefully bred since 2003. It is still rarely seen outside China and the surrounding areas. 

History of the breed

Historical evidence validates that this breed is one of the oldest known. Scriptures reference the cat as early as the Xiang Dynasty. The cat is first mentioned as the Chinese Mountain Wildcat before evolving into the Dragon Li, essentially domesticating itself.

The breed saw a massive upturn in popularity in the early 2000s, when a new breeding programme saw Dragon Li cats appear at multiple pedigree displaying shows. The breed gained certification from Chinese and American cat breeding associations.

Physical attributes of the Dragon Li breed

"Taiga yawning" by Hal 0005 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

This Chinese breed is likely to have short hair and be medium-sized compared to other breeds. Its colours are specific, with only golden-brown and brown-mackerel tabby patterns regarded as authentic Dragon Li.

This breed’s ears are distinctive for their pointed tips, accompanied by striking yellow and/or green eyes. Of course, the cat has a Leopard appearance due to its wild-looking pattern, which resembles a tabby’s coat. Some have described the patterns as floral, earning the breed the nickname: ‘Fox Flower Cat’.

Mentality of the Dragon Li

One reason the Dragon Li breed is so popular amongst Chinese pet owners is that they are known to communicate clearly with humans - about what they want. In Chinese folklore, they and their ancestors were known as astute hunters until later, working with humans, forming a harmonious coexistence. That said, it is unlikely that they will become lapcats as they much prefer their independence.

The breed is known to be playful with its humans and other animals, yet it doesn’t have much time for children—as they do not communicate clearly what they want, disrupting the harmonious coexistence between cat and human. Given how playful they are, if you have one, why not get them some cat presents in the form of a catnip mouse?

Nutritional needs of the Dragon Li

There are no specific dietary requirements for the Dragon Li breed. However, feeding them high-quality protein cat food would be wise, given their active lifestyle. The Innocent Cat has plenty of that… whether as a one-time purchase on a cat food subscription basis!

With two distinct flavours of air-dried cat food and three different cat treat options, your Dragon Li never needs to go hungry again! Our food is handcrafted right here in Yorkshire within our grain-free facility, making us different from other cat food brands!

If you have a kitten Dragon Li or another cat completely, this cat food will do just the trick, as long as they are aged eight weeks or over. You can add it to your cat food dispenser or cat food bowl!

Popularity of the breed

The breed is unofficially recognised as the national cat of China, and it enjoys excellent popularity there and in surrounding regions like Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. Reports have suggested that single-digit numbers of the Dragon Li breed live in the US. However, brief research indicates that Dragon Li has a minor interest in Google searches in Malaysia, Singapore, and Laos.