A cat with the most luxurious appearance, the ravishing Turkish Angora can truly be called a Turkish delight. One of the oldest longhaired breeds, strenuous efforts are being made in its homeland to maintain the purity of its bloodlines. Did you know that white Angoras with odd colored eyes may be deaf in the ear that is on the same side as the blue eye.
History
The Turkish angora is a pure, natural breed, probably domesticated by the Tartars. These cats became established in Turkey, where they were, and still are, highly regarded. In the sixteenth century, they were presented as gifts to European nobility by Turkish sultans. Since the 1940s, they have been a protected species and the Ankara Zoo has maintained a breeding colony of Angora cats, breeding only white cats. Although Angoras were known as far back as the 1980s, the Turkish angora as we know it today did not reach the USA until 1962, when two were imported from the turkey’s Ankara zoo.
Description
The ideal Turkish angora is a lithe, balanced, graceful animal with a muscular, medium sized body, overall balance and fineness of bone are more important than size. The torso is long and slender and the shoulders are the same width as the hips. The small to medium head is wedge shaped, with a long, gently pointed nose. The nose leather is pink in the white Angora and should harmonize with the coat in other colors. The neck is long and slim. No break or hint of a break is allowed in the line of the nose. The large, almond shaped eyes slant up slightly and have an open expression. The eyes can be any color with no relationship between eye color and coat color. White cats with odd eyes are prized because of their rarity. The large ears are wide at the base, pointed and tufted. They are set high on the head, vertical and erect.
The legs are long and sturdy, with small, round, dainty toes, preferably with tufts of hair in between. The paw pads are pink in the white angora, but in keeping with the coat in other colors. The tail is long and plumed, tapering from a wide base to a narrow end.
The fine, dense, silky, medium length coat shimmers with every movement. It is not fully developed until the cat is about two years old. There is no undercoat and the hair is mainly straight, but wavy on the stomach. There is a long ruff and britches, with longer hair under the body than on the back. The coat should be combed regularly with a medium toothed comb to remove dead hair and prevent matting. In order to avoid hairballs, grooming is very important during the spring when the winter coat is being shed.
Varieties
The original Turkish angora was accepted only in white, with either blue, copper, green, amber or odd eyes. Although they are now registered in all colors and patterns, except colorpoint, solid lilac and chocolate, the majority of breeders still prefer to breed the original white cats.
Temperament
Turkish angoras make wonderful pets and are thought to be among the most intelligent of cat breeds. They are gentle and friendly, with great charm.
When the Victorians launched their breeding programs using longhaired Persians and white cats from Ankara in Turkey, the Persian type became dominant.
While the Turkish cat was an essential ingredient in the creation of the longhaired Persian of today, its type did not catch on to the same extent as the Persian.
A Calico Turkish Angora shows that alert expression and high set ears typical of the breed.
The result was that by the early 1900s, there were no Turkish Angoras on the international show scene and the type was nearly wiped out. However, it has always been highly valued in its land of origin, and a handful of cats were kept at Ankara Zoo.
The pure white Turkish Angora is probably the closest to the first linghaired cat that was brought to Europe from Ankara, Turkey in 1500s. This one, however, is a highly bred odd eyed white with a definitively modern form.
They continued to breed there in relative obscurity until rediscovered by the rest of the world in 1963. A pair was taken to America and a breeding program started, although it is still not recognized by the main United Kingdom cat fancy.
The Turkish Angora’s pert and pretty profile and aplendid plume of tail can be appreciated on this Black Tortie Smoke.
The white version, in particular, is now highly prized in its native Turkey. The Turkish Angora is a graceful, small to medium sized cat, with a neat and attractively tapered head. To begin with, only the white versions were recognized but now there is a whole range of self’s, bi colors tabbies and smokes.
Top Reasons To Adopt Turkish Angora Cat!
Cats are always adorable and loving but Turkish Angora Cat has some awesome features that can never be neglected. If you are a cat lover and love to adopt kitties with white fur then I will recommend you to go for this cat breed without any hesitation. There are dozens of cat breeds and all of them have enough special features and behaviors that match with people and they happily adopt them without giving a second thought. This cat breed was originated in historical city Of Turkey known as Ankara or ‘Angora’. In short, this cat is also known as “Ankara Cat” these days so it is up to you to call it by its original or historical name.
Physical Appearance Of Turkish Angora Cat :
The major reason of fame and adorners towards this cat breed are its physical features and appearance that attracts most of the people. Usually, this cat is famous because of its white fur and they are mostly available in white coating. So, if you adore white furry cats then go for this breed. Moreover, most of the longhaired or white fur cats have sensitive bone structure but this breed has a fine bone structure that helps it to face different problems while climbing or running.
A Connection Between Turkish Van And Turkish Angora Cat:
This cat also has a deep connection with Turkish Van because both of them are from same country and they also have some resembling features and behaviors. All of the cats have almost same height and fur but Turkish Angora has a great distinction from other cats. This cat is also available in different colors and it has the ability to gain the attention of people very quickly. If you are in a pet shop or looking for real cat breeds then the most purest cat breed you can easily access is this cat breed.
Turkish Angora Cat Has A Deep Connection With Its Owner:
Usually, cats are introvert and love to be alone but this cat breed has some different features. It loves to spend time with its master and always prefer to obey the rules of its owner without any hesitation. Not only attraction towards their owner but the factor of loyalty and sincerity is also very high. A lot of breeders consider this cat breed as a dog because of all these features but at last it is a cat and everyone prefers to adopt it only because of its white fur and high level of sincerity and love with its owner.
Full Of Life And Playful:
Not all the cats are playful except few cat breeds including Turkish Angora. This cat has the ability to make its master happy and satisfied mentally. They love to play with different toys and climbing and diving in water is not an issue for them. In short, this cat can easily make your mood better by its funny tricks and love for their master. If you really want to adopt a Turkish Angora then find a successful cat breeder.
Turkish Angora Cat Breed Information
coat – fine, silky, medium length, wavy on stomach, no undercoat
eyes – large, almond shaped, amber, blue, odd eyed, green for silver cats
other features – moults heavily in summer
grooming – relatively easy, daily brushing and combing
temperament – affectionate, intelligent, can be playful, enjoys peace and quiet
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