The Turkish Angora (Turkish : Ankara Kedisi ) is a breed of domestic cat. Turkish Angoras are one of the ancient, naturally-occurring cat breeds, having originated in central Turkey, in the Ankara region.

Turkish Angora Cat Origin

Longhaired white cats have been noted in Turkey and surrounding areas for centuries. According to legend, Muhammad, founder of the Islamic faith, possessed a Turkish Angora whom he treasured. Rather than disturb the cat as she slept on his robe, he cut off the sleeve. If true, the Angora has been around for more than 1,400 years.

The Turkish Angora cat originates from Turkey, and the area around Ankara (formerly Angora), from which it derives its name. Cats from this region were said to be the first longhairs seen in Europe, brought back by Vikings as early as the 10th century, and forming the foundation for our modern-day longhairs.

The other version of the Turkish Angora origin states that Angoras probably originated in Turkistan, and travelled with the Ottoman Empire to the country of Turkey during the time we know as the "Crusades".

The Turkish Angora was brought to the attention of the known world, when the crusaders returning from the “holy wars” in the east, brought them to Europe with other treasures garnered as spoils of war. In 1620-1625, a French scholar named Fabri de Peiresc imported several pure white cats from Ancyre, the ancient name for Ankara. The kittens he bred were given to friends in the highest circles of France. One of his first kittens was given to Cardinal de Richelieu, the French statesman.

Somehow, the Persian cat breed became more popular in the Western world and in the twentieth century the Angora was extensively crossbred with the Persian, leading eventually to the virtual extinction of the breed.

After the Second World War, as Turkey began to have more contact with Europe and the Western Hemisphere, the cats of the Turkish streets began to mix with cats that were arriving with travellers. To preserve these special cats, the Turkish government brought them into the national zoo, and started a controlled breeding colony there.

In 1962, some American military personnel discovered Turkish Angoras in the Ankara Zoo. They brought back several pairs to the United States, rekindling a new interest in this ancient breed. The Turkish Angora Cats were exported during the 1960s to Great Britain, Sweden and North America. Breeding programs began in these areas and formed the foundation stock for the pedigree of the Turkish Angora Cat.

Turkish Angora Cat Appearence

The Turkish Angora Cats have firm, long muscular body with a full, feathered tail that is often held in an upwards curve. Angora is a comparatively small cat, usually ranging from 5 to 9 pounds.

The head is a medium long, smooth wedge with a smooth and pointed muzzle, having no whisker pads or pinch. The profile is two straight lines formed by the top head and the line of the nose.

The ears are large, tall and have tufts at the tips; set very closely together, high on the head, vertical and erect.

They have almond shaped eyes that are large and slant upwards slightly. The preferred eye color is amber and may have flecks of green. The White cats can have blue or odd-eyed (one of each) colors and the Silver Tabbies are required to have green.

Turkish Angora Cat Colors and Coats

The Turkish Angora Cats have no undercoat and its coat is fine and silky. The length of the coat is medium and wavy on the underside. Lacking of a woolly undercoat makes grooming very straight forward. The fur should lie smooth but loose such that bodily movements ripple through the coat, accentuating the muscle contractions beneath.

All colors are acceptable for show, except those with the Himalayan pattern. Popular colors at this time are: the solids; white, black, blue; the tabbies, brown, blue, silver, cameo, red, cream; the particolors; tortoiseshell, bluecream, patched tabby and the smokes; cameo, black, blue. These colors plus any of the above with white, are those seen most frequently at the shows. Since this is a pure breed with no out-crossing permitted, the colours chocolate, cinnamon, lavender are disallowed, as are pointed variations.

The Turkish Angora Temperament

A Turkish Angora makes a splendid pet. The Turkish Angora, like most cats, is a comfort seeker. They are usually very devoted to one owner, but are friendly with the entire family.

These cats are athletic, and can jump or even walk, to high places. There is no wardrobe being too high for them, and no door too secure. Unlike most cats, many members of this breed love to swim and are drawn to water.

The Turkish Angora is an avid hunter. Moths, flies, and other intruders into the house will live a dangerous, and short, life.

Turkish Angora kittens are precocious, very active, and start to play from an early age. They don't develop a full angora coat until they're at least two years old.

Some Turkish Angoras are "talkers", and some are not. This depends on the individual characteristics of each cat. They do not, however, have an "oriental" voice. Their voice is usually sweet - a typical "meow"

The Turkish Angora is an extremely intelligent cat, and they are very alert. They tend to have a sense of humor, and their owners will need this quality also. Angoras can be very strong-willed and determined once they make up their minds.