THE TURKISH ANGORA CAT

The Turkish Angora is a beautiful breed that makes a great family pet. They are highly intelligent, affectionate and very active. A Turkish Angora is never shy to show you how agile they can be. Their pastimes include jumping across sofas and climbing up your bookcase. In their downtime, they enjoy playing with kids and will occasionally take a nap on their owners’ lap.

Brief History

The Turkish Angora’s origin dates back several millennia. According to history, the Vikings brought this cat to Turkey. There, they bred and became a popular souvenir for people exploring from other nations. They get their name from the city of Ankara, which was originally known as Angora. Over time, Turkish Angoras became a very scarce breed even in their own country. Thankfully, the Ankara Zoo created a breeding program that saved the Turkish Angora populations in Turkey.

Turkish Angoras made their way to the U.S. for the first time in 1954. While they garnered a lot of attention from breeders, they weren’t officially recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association until the mid 1960s.

Physical Features

Most Turkish Angoras have white coats with long, silky hair. Their coats are so shiny, they’re said to “shimmer” as they walk. The length of the Turkish Angora’s coat varies from one part of their body to the other. The longest hairs are found on the ruff located around their neck. They also have long fur on the britches of their hind legs and on the plume of their tails. While many Turkish Angoras coats are white, they can come in a wide-range of colors be of other colors such as, roan, brown, grey, black and red. However, this cat can have a coat that is patterned.

Turkish Angoras have small, wedge-shaped heads with large ears that sit high on the crown. Each ear famously has small tufts of hair on the tip. They have large, almond-shaped eyes that have a slight upward slant. Another distinctive trait is their eye colors. While Turkish Angoras can have blue, gold or green eyes, often they have one of each!

Life Expectancy:

14 years

Temperament

Special Needs

The Turkish Angora is a social cat that needs to have company at all times. If you are away from home, it is always a great idea to leave him/her with another cat or a dog for company. Without that, they may develop anxiety.

Due to their intelligence, when a Turkish Angora gets an idea into her mind, it is very difficult to convince them otherwise. This sometimes leads to stubbornness. Positive reinforcement training may be neccessary to help them adjust to household rules.

The Turkish Angora is generally a healthy and strong cat, but may be prone to some health issues like deafness. Turkish Angoras that have dual-colored eyes typically are deaf on the side with blue eyes. They are also prone to developing ataxia or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Take your Turkish Angora to the vet immediately after adoption to talk about these potential issues.

Exercise

The Turkish Angora is an active cat and require ample exercise every day. This can take the form of jogs around the block  on a cat leash, indoor games or jumping sessions. They should last for 30 minutes at a time. Fun fact: Turkish Angoras loves to dance! The cat enjoys vocalizing so they can meow and ask you for a dance from time to time. This forms a good part of their exercise routine.

Nutrition

The Turkish Angora will do well with two servings of protein-rich food twice a day. Some carbohydrate-full food is also recommended, due to its high activity. Cool clean water is also necessary.

Grooming

The Turkish Angora has a long coat of silky smooth fur. It needs regular grooming so as to stay clean and healthy. To keep it from matting, brush once per day. Nails should be clipped and teeth  brushed once every week. Make sure to clean their ears with a mixture of 50% cider vinegar and 50% water. This keeps them clear of debris and dry wax.