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Turkish Angora

Turkish Angora Cats, Turkish Cat

Family: FelidaeFelis domesticusPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Justin Brough

The Turkish Angora is a rare cat breed and a valued treasure in the cat fancy community!

The Turkish Angora is just about the perfect breed for anyone who wants a pet cat. It is a great pick for cat owners that love long-haired cats, but don't want the commitment of daily grooming. This cat breed has a beautiful, lush, silky coat. Although its coat is long, it requires infrequent grooming since it has no wooly undercoat.

This is an out-going, intelligent, and social cat. The Turkish Angora is very affectionate and loving toward people and other animals. A loving and playful cat breed, it enjoys being in the middle of family activities and it loves interaction. It will dance around and pounce on all sorts of small toys, as well as its owner's toes. It is also a well-behaved breed and can be taught to retrieve and perform tricks. The Turkish Angora makes a wonderful companion for families, couples, or individual cat owners. It is also graceful and adaptable, making it a good companion for children.

This Turkish cat is an ancient natural breed cat originating from the Ankara region, previously Angora, of central western Turkey. This is a distant cousin to the Turkish Van Cat. It is a medium-sized, finely boned breed with a long slender body and neck. The head is small, contrasted with long ears that are pointed and tufted. This cat breed was originally favored for its shimmering white coat, but today there are more than 20 different color and color pattern varieties.The eyes can be several colors like blue, green or amber, or there can be odd eyes, having one that's blue and the other that's amber. It has also been crossed with other natural breed cats to create other stunning varieties, one possibility are the Balinese or Long Haired Siamese Cats.

With their shimmering white coats, the Turkish Angora Cats are considered a prized breed and a national treasure in Turkey, especially those that have the "odd eyes". The Ankara Zoo, founded in Turkey in 1933, began a dedicated breeding program to protect and preserve this valued Turkish cat. In the 1950's this zoo also imported a few to the United States for breeding programs. Today it is found in America and Europe, but less so in Britain since it is not recognized by their main cat fancy association, the GCCF.

For information about keeping a pet cat, see:
Cat Care: How to Take Care of a Cat

Background The Turkish Angora originates from the central western region of Turkey, near Ankara, formally named Angora, Angora is the city this breed was named after. These cats are believed to be descendents of longhair cats brought to Europe by the Vikings in the 10th century.

By the 1900's, this breed was used in Persian breeding programs. The Persian Cat became widely popular, while the Turkish Angora almost vanished. These cats are a considered a national treasure in Turkey. They were prized for their shimmering white coats, and especially favored if they had odd eyes, with one being blue and the other being amber. The Ankara Zoo, founded in Turkey in 1933, began a dedicated breeding program to protect and preserve this valued Turkish cat.

In the 1950's, a few of the remaining Turkish Angoras were imported to the United States from the Ankara Zoo, and new breeding programs were begun. This white version of this breed was first registered in 1968 by the Cat Fancier's Association (CFA), (the leading American cat breed organization. Colored varieties were accepted ten years later in 1978. The Turkish Angora is currently not recognized by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF), which is the leading British cat breed organization, but is recognized by other associations in Europe.

Description The Turkish Angora is a medium-sized, finely boned breed. It has a long, slender torso and neck. The head is small to medium-sized and tapers toward the chin. The ears are large, pointed, and tufted, and the eyes are large and almond-shaped. The tail is long and tapering. They have a long average life span of 15 or more years.This breed ranges from 6 to 11 pounds.

The Turkish Angora's coat is medium-long in length, fine, and silky. It develops a thick coat in the winter, but sheds it in the summer, causing it to look like a short haired breed. Turkish Angoras were originally only accepted in competition if they were white with blue eyes, but they are now accepted in a variety of colors. They are accepted in many colors, excluding the color patterns that indicate hybridization, which are chocolate, lilac, cinnamon, fawn, color point, or Burmese color patterns.

Care and Feeding This breed requires no special diet. It prefers meat, but is not finicky.

Housing Your Cat This breed can live in an apartment or house. It would enjoy a yard, but does not require one. It should be provided with toys and a scratching post indoors.

Maintenance Unlike most long hair breeds, the Turkish Angora only needs weekly brushing and combing. It does shed in the warm season,

Social Behaviors The Turkish Angora cat is a social breed that gets along with people and other animals, including dogs. They enjoy interaction and being part of whatever activities are going on. This is a good cat for families, couples, or active cat loving individuals.

Activities This is an active breed that enjoys playing. It should be provided with toys and room to run. It loves to play with and pounce on a sorts of small toys, almost seeming to dance. Some even refer to it as the "dancing cat". Turkish Angoras are known for their prowess for swimming. Some are known to truly enjoy the water, yet there are others that don't, suggesting that it is the independent preference of an individual cat.

Breeding/Reproduction Turkish Angora kittens become active and begin playing early, but they do not develop the full angora coat until age two.

Common Health Problems This is a strong, healthy breed, save one genetic tendency. White Turkish Angoras with blue eyes are often deaf, and those with only one blue eye, are often deaf on the side with the blue eye. However, this is a tendency related to the coat and eye color of the cat. It is found in most breeds that produce white cats with blue eyes, not only the Turkish Angora.

Availability This is a rare breed, but breeders can be located on the internet. Prices range from $150 for a pet quality adult to $400 for a pet quality kitten to $700 for a show quality kitten to over $1000 for a show quality white kitten with blue eyes and no hearing problems.

References

• See Animal-World References: Cat Breeds - Exotic Cats
• Bruce Fogle, CATolog, DK ADULT, 2002.
• Mordecai Siegal, Simon & Schuster's Guide To Cats , Simon & Schuster, 1983
• Turkish Angora, Wikipedia

Author: Ruth Bratcher

Lastest Comments on Turkish Angora Cats View all 34 comments on Turkish Angora Cats Add Your Comment

Jacquie - 2011-10-19 My 6 yo white turkish angoian died 10/16 and I have been heart broken ever since. I got him when he was 5 weeks old and spoiled him to no end. I bathed him brushed him slept with him, played in the yard with him while he was on his leash. He loved going out on his leash and would get it for me. He loved the snow and would sit and watch the rain outside his favorite window. I truly miss him. I was surprised to read of how many are deaf. Amadeus (aka Buttons/Gato Loco) was definitely not deaf and would appear from where ever if he was called. If anyone knows of a kitten available please feel free to contact me. Click For Replies (1) Karen - 2012-01-12 Jacquie, I wanted to express my condolences on the loss of your Angora. I too had a Turkish Angora as white as a newly fallen snow. He had one amber and one blue eye. His name was Cutimus Maximus because he was cute to the max! Oddly enough he too died in the early morning hours of October 16th, 2011. I found his body in one of his favorite resting spots. My heart is broken over his passing just as yours is over Amadeus. I wanted to let you know there is a heart defect that can cause sudden death in Angoras between the ages of 2 and 6 that is what I suspect took my Maximus. I hope you find a new companion even if it is not a Turkish Angora. - Karen Reply

Brianna - 2011-12-23 I adopted my black turkish angora when he was 5 years old from a shelter. He has the most beautiful green eyes and he is the most loveable cat anyone could ask for. He is turning 10 and still very playful and very devoted. I could be in a different part of the house and when I call his name he will come running to me everytime. There was one point when I would get home from work and he would run up to me with one of my slippers in his mouth! It was so adorable. Even though I didnt bond with him as a kitten he sure bonded with me when I first got him. The best cat I ever got. Click For Replies (1) Charlie Roche - 2011-12-24 They have quite the unique personality. Friend of mine has one and it is constantly providing entertainment and he has her trained very well. Reply

Danny - 2011-11-28 My wife and I have a white, blue eyed angora that is the love of the house. She loves to be held and petted all the time. She gets along with all our other pets, good thing we have two other cats and two yorkies. But she is the baby of the place and also the queen. And to think someone put her out as a kitten, only thing we can think is they were not animal people. But we saved her and she has been the best pet we have ever had. Loves to be in the middle of everything. Click For Replies (1) Charlie Roche - 2011-11-29 They are beautiful. Reply

Jason Schaal - 2011-11-20 Hello, We can become very bonded with a pet. I adopted a Turkish Angoran cat about 8 years ago. His estimated age was 10 years old. He is such an incredible cat, and very sensitive to the energy around him (like I am.) He is getting very skinny and I am accepting the possibility that it might be time for him to go soon, so I spend as much time as possible giving him attention and trying to help him gain weight. I am not blessed with much time to do this, but he gets enough. Before this, I lost the pride of other 4 cats (sky, shadow, crazy eyes, smokey) for which I have no idea what happened to them. This one is saying indoors. They all had a good life, however short, or perhaps they are still somewhere. Click For Replies (1) Charlie Roche - 2011-11-21 Ahhh I am sorry but they better be somewhere and us humans better be able to find our pets. Reply

Silver - 2011-11-19 I have the most handsome angora cat with copper-golden eyes. He's 3/4 angora and 1/4 Persian, so how much would he had cost if he were one year old? Click For Replies (1) Charlie Roche - 2011-11-21 Anything will cost what someone is willing to pay for it. To me, my kitten is worth a million dollars but to someone else probably not. Most people will only pay money for a kitten if the kitten with a pedigree that can be shown meeting show standards. Sorry but just love him. Reply

W8N4Wings - 2011-01-21 Hello cat lovers, nice to meet you! Please meet a very special family member, my soon to be 14 year old blue eyed Turkish Angora, Casper. He was born 2/9/1997, the exact day my husband went home to be with our Lord and Savior. My Mother became very sick in 1995 with pneumonia and was on life support for 3 months. This left her disabled and she became lonely not being able to lead the active lifestyle she was used to. My Mother needed a friend, and Casper was sent from heaven to fulfill this need. I brought him to my Mother when he was 7 weeks old. They became inseparable. On November 30th 2006 my Mother was called home, Casper grieved right along with the rest of my family. My Father couldn't care for Casper due to needing a knee replacement, and I gladly brought Casper home with me. Casper can hear well, another reason I know he was heaven sent. God don't make mistakes, and I am honored that Casper is a part of my family. Click For Replies (2) Sharon Dunn - 2011-07-10 Casper is a very lucky boy to have had two loving homes! I too believe that God sends us animal friends when they are needed. I had a beloved dog that I knew was running short of time and I could not have imagined what I would do without him. About three years ago in December a stray dog showed up at our home whom I adopted. This wonderful dog loves our cats and they adore him. My beautiful old boy passed away six months later. While I missed him terribly, my new boy helped fill the hole in my heart. I am sure that God sent him to me knowing that my beloved old dog would be called home soon. Thank you for sharing your beautiful, inspiring story. RA - 2011-08-22 God sent my daughter ASHVARYA a guardian angel in the form of ZUZU-MALIBU , a 2 month old turkish van kedisi kitten which she rescued from a group of rowdy children. ZUZU is the most well behaved she kitten , a precious member of our family and loves to talk to us riding on my shoulders around my flat.One night my second daughter had a dream that my elder daughter(the one who had rescued the kitten )had fallen from our fourth floor flat at night and broken her leg. She was very upset. A week after this ZUZU MALIBU fell down in exactly the same way from our fourth floor flat and broke his leg. Both my daughters were inconsolable, saying that ZUZU had saved Ashvarya from the mishap of falling and breaking her leg, by taking on the mishap on herself. We showed ZUZU to the best vet, who performed world class cross wiring surgery on her small front leg. She is perfctly well now and runs like before, as if there was no mishap. We are sure that ZUZU is Ashvarya's GUARDIAN ANGEL. Reply

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