Turkish Angora Breed Guide

Turkish Angoras are graceful, beautiful, and rare. At 5 to 9 pounds, these cats are on the small to medium side, and they have lithe, long, finely boned bodies and wedge-shaped heads. They feature medium-long coats and plumed tails. Solid white coloration is a classic breed look, but Turks come in most colors and patterns. Their tail plumes, manes, and britches grow out more fully in the winter. Their eyes are usually blue, green, or amber, and some individuals have two different colored eyes.

Between their utter lack of shyness, their tendency to follow, their perpetual need for interaction, and their dominant streak, these cats are often compared to dogs.

These generally healthy cats live an average of 13 years. Turkish Angoras are considered some of the most affectionate and extroverted cats of all. They are highly adaptable and get along well with children, other animals, and strangers. However, they insist on being the dominant creature in the home, and they aren't afraid to make demands when they want something.

Many Turkish Angoras have a very un-catlike love of water, even to the point of willingly jumping into a running shower or full bathtub.

Turkish Angoras are extremely loving and loyal, but they aren't too fond of sitting still in a lap for more than a moment. They are animated and playful clowns that pull off practical jokes on their families and do whatever they want, whenever they want. Although they love to interact with humans of all ages, including children and seniors, and other animals, they assert themselves as boss and don't tolerate dissent in the ranks.

These agile cats need a good deal of attention, lest they become bored and turn to mischief to amuse themselves. They're highly intelligent and gifted problem solvers, so they usually manage to get whatever they want. Turks follow their human family members around and can be demanding when they feel slighted or ignored.

This breed is notably outgoing. Turkish Angoras don't hesitate to investigate visitors and show off for them with acrobatics and a keen hunter's instinct. Between their utter lack of shyness, their tendency to follow, their perpetual need for interaction, and their dominant streak, these cats are often compared to dogs.

Turkish Angoras can reasonably be expected to live about 13 years, or possibly a bit longer. Maintenance of a healthy weight, living as inside-only pets, and annual veterinary checkups are three keys to longevity.

The breed has a genetic susceptibility to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This is the most prevalent cause of feline heart disease, and the condition causes the lining of the heart to thicken. Responsible breeders screen for this ailment and remove affected cats from their lines, but no breeder can guarantee a cat will never develop the condition.

White Turkish Angoras with blue eyes are prone to deafness, and those with two different colored eyes sometimes develop deafness in one ear. Partially and even completely deaf cats generally fare well, though.

Turkish Angoras need outlets for their energy and curiosity. They enjoy exercising their urge to hunt with tossed wads of paper, laser pointers (just watch out for the eyes), mechanized toys, and anything else they can chase, stalk, and pounce on. Puzzle toys are good, too, and they should also have access to a tall cat tree to indulge their love of climbing.

Once these strong-willed cats develop a habit or take a liking to something, it's incredibly difficult to break them of it or change their minds. House rules should be established and consistently enforced from day one to prevent undesirable behaviors from becoming stubbornly ingrained. Also, a variety of foods should be provided from the start to avoid an overly picky palate.

Like all cats, Turkish Angoras are much better off when kept indoors or only allowed outside briefly with supervision. These cats won't hesitate to explore far and wide and approach cars, unfamiliar animals, chemical substances, and other hazards. Additionally, they're likely to hunt small prey, which can expose them to poisons, parasites, and diseases.

The long, silky coat and puffy tail and mane may look high-maintenance, but this isn't the case. Turkish Angoras have only a single-layer coat, which is uncharacteristic of cats with long hair. Because of this, they aren't susceptible to matting like other longhair breeds.

Grooming once or twice per week with a slicker brush or a fine-tooth comb is usually adequate to keep hair under control. These cats shed relatively lightly, but their coats thin out as warm weather approaches. More frequent brushing or combing during the spring may be necessary.

White or light colored Turkish Angoras benefit from an occasional bath, and chances are good this won't be difficult, since many appreciate being in water. Their ears should be cleaned out as needed and watched for signs of infection, such as swelling, redness, bad odor, or discharge. Their teeth should be cleaned regularly and their nails clipped about once every two weeks.

The origin of Turkish Angoras is murky. They are sometimes said to be descended from the Asian Pallas cat, but fundamental differences in their temperaments make this unlikely. Most experts agree the breed is descended from African wildcats, and some suspect Turkish Angoras come from matings between Pallases and African wildcats.

These cats probably got their longhair gene through spontaneous mutation over their centuries-long history in Turkey, where they are regarded as national treasures. Mohammed, the founder of Islam, is said to have had an Angora companion named Muezza. Like Angora rabbits and Angora goats, famed for their silky coats, the breed takes its name from the Turkish capital city of Angora, which is called Ankara today.

Turkish Angoras are mentioned in French writings from the 1500s and they were shown in the earliest English cat shows in the 19th century. At that time, they were indiscriminately bred with Persians and lost their identity. The natural breed survived in its native country, though, and the Ankara Zoo began a program to preserve it. The zoo granted a pair of Turkish Angoras to a US Colonel and his wife in 1962, and they became the parents of the breed in America. A US Sergeant brought another pair home two years later, and imports picked up through the 1970s.

The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) began accepting solid white Turkish Angoras for registration in 1968 and advanced them to championship status in 1972. Other colors and patterns were recognized in 1978. To be registered with the CFA, these cats must have a lineage tracing directly back to Turkey.