Turkish Angora Introduction
The Turkish Angora is considered the Ballerina of the cat world. These fine boned cats are very graceful and have a fascinating history about them. These are natural cat breeds originating from the Ankara region in Turkey, the new name for Angora. The angoras are believed to be the beginning of mutations in terms of color and longhair. These silken cats are fine boned and come in a variety of colors. These royal cats are very friendly and welcome guests who treat them with respect. Angoras have a long history in Turkey their native land. In Turkey these cats are regarded as national treasures and owners of these cats are very glad to have them as pets.
Turkish Angora History
The exact origins of Turkish Angoras are not known. It is often said that Angoras have originated from the longhaired Pallas cat. This is an Asian wildcat, which is the size of a domestic cat, though these claims are not been verified. The Pallas was wild by nature and was drastically opposite to the domestic cats we find today. The domestic cats are caring and affectionate while these wild cats were impossible to train. It is believed that the Angoras have developed from the African wildcat like most other domestic cat breeds.
The longhair was a result of recessive mutation occurred naturally hundreds of years ago. These longhairs were created by interbreeding in the hilly terrains thus limiting any out crossing in the Lake Van region of Turkey. Longhaired cats were noticed in Turkey and neighboring areas for centuries. Ankara the new name for the Turkish capital was called previously by the name Angora is also the home of Angora rabbits a longhaired rabbit and goats that were precious for the people of Turkey due to their long and silky hair.
The journey of longhaired cats to France and Britain began from Turkey, Russia, Persia, and Afghanistan in the later part of 1500s. By 1600s and 1700s the Angoras were found in Europe and later in America. These cats in those days were very costly and precious. According to a story an Angora owner turned down the offer of $5000 for his cat at a cat show in London.
Slowly the Persians became the most loved cat of the cat fanciers in Europe. To increase the length and fineness of the coat of Persians, Angoras cats were extensively used. Later on the Governing Council for Cat Fancy decided that all cats with long hairs will be called longhairs. Any longhairs were called as Persians or Angoras, despite their lineage. The Angoras, Russian Longhair and the Persians were extensively bred to create longhaired cats. In Turkey this breed has ceased to exist as a pure breed. By the year 1900 the Angoras completely disappeared from their native lands and stopped participating in cat shows.
In 1900 the Turkey government took the situation in hand and decided to carefully breed, protect and preserve this breed with blue and amber eyes, which is still continued with the help of Ankara zoo. The odd-eyed Angoras were particularly taken care of because they were believed to be blessed by Allah.
The Turks valued the Angora cat and hence it was difficult to get these cats from Turkey. It was only in 1962, the wife of an Army colonel Walter Grant who was posted in Turkey successfully imported a pair of Angoras to the United States with the whole list of their lineage. The breeders in America soon started breeding this breed and helped the cat gain the CFA recognition.
In 1970, The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) became the first registry to give acceptance for the Turkish Angora. In 1973 these cats were given the championship status. Today all cat registries have given acceptance to this breed and their gene pool is slowly increasing.
Turkish Angora Traits
Angoras were considered pure white for many years, but now these cats can be found in many different colors. As it is known white cats with blue eyes are partially or completely deaf. This is not a problem with the Angora breed, but it is due to a defect in the dominant W gene that is responsible for the white color and blue eyes in these cats.
Odd-eyed cats are usually deaf on one side and that too on the blue-eyed side. These cats are svelte, slim, medium sized, and have a well-proportioned body. Along with the long body these cats have slim and long legs, long tail, wide eyes and large ears. It is a fine boned cat breed with super soft and silky coat.
It’s gorgeous and shiny coat glitters while walking. Though the coat is long they are easy to groom since they have a single coat. In the warm months the hair sheds and in the cold months the coat grows longer and thicker. The tail especially becomes fluffier. Due to the single coat their hair is free of tangles.
Just like the Van cat the Angoras also have odd-eyed cats with one eye blue and the other amber. Pure white coat is the favored color by cat fanciers, but now there are more than twenty colors and smoke and tabby patterns. These cats weigh in the range of 6 to 18 pounds and a lifespan of 12 to 18 years. This cat can be bought from $150 for kittens and $400 for an adult.
Turkish Angora Personality
Angoras are very attached to their owners. These beautiful cats are intelligent and devoted to their families. They want to get involved in all the daily activities or else they will be unhappy. They will indulge in a good conversation with their preferred friends in the house. Angoras love playing and can be naughty and energetic at times. They can sometimes pounce on your feet depending on their mood. These intelligent cats are problem solvers and like to take control of the situation. Like their cousins Van the Angoras are also great swimmers and don’t get surprised if you see them suddenly going for a swim.
Turkish Angora Health and Care
The W gene that is responsible for the white coat and blue colored eyes is also responsible for the hearing loss in this cat breed as well as in other breeds. Some odd-eyed cats don’t have any of these problems and are completely normal. Angora kittens suffer from a rare condition called hereditary ataxia. These affected kittens movements are shaky and do not survive until adulthood. The other genetic ailment affecting these cats is cardiac ailment usually affecting males between the ages 2 to 4.
The longhaired Angoras need brushing once a day during summers when they shed more. Since these cats have a single layer of coat it is very easy to groom them. This cat breed is not very particular about their food and requires no special diet, though it prefers meat based food.
Turkish Angora Behavior
It is a social breed that gets along well with other people like guests. They enjoy being a part of all the activities and the in-between interactions. These cats are good for families, couples and even active families. They can live in apartments as well as in yards. These cats enjoy playing and always want a room full of toys to run.
Turkish Angora with Children and Pets
These social cats are comfortable with children and are good family oriented cats. They are good with cat friendly dogs and other cats in the house.
Turkish Angoras are elegant and chatty type of cats. They can be mischievous sometimes, but will keep you entertained with funny moments.
The Turkish Angora cat breed is such a beautiful and unique breed of cat. They are known for their long, silky fur, which is usually white, but can come in various other colors, too. These cats are very social and make great pets for families who can provide plenty of love and attention. They also enjoy playing and running around, so an active home is ideal for them. Turkish Angoras make excellent companions, as they are loyal and affectionate. They are also incredibly intelligent and can be trained to do tricks, which can be very entertaining for their owners.
Overall, the Turkish Angora cat breed is one of the most beautiful and interesting breeds out there. They have an elegant appearance and a personality that is sure to win the hearts of their owners. With the right environment and care, they can be a wonderful addition to any home. Turkish Angoras cat breed are loyal and affectionate, and they make great companions. They are sure to be a great addition to any home, as long as they are given the love and attention they need.
