Know About The Turkish Angora Cat – A Comprehensive Information
Known for their long, ballerina-like bodies and silky fur, Turkish Angora is treasured in their native Turkey. Despite their delicate appearance and relatively small size, however, Turkish Angoras are affectionate and playful with their owners, children, and other pets as long as the other pets know that the Angora is boss.
A naturalized breed that originated in Turkey in the early 15th century, the Turkish Angora was long considered a solid white cat with blue or green eyes. Today, however, it is widely accepted that Turkish Angoras can come in many different colors and variations, including Himalayan, calico, tortoiseshell, and tabby.
- Origin: Turkey
- HEIGHT: 9–14 inches
- WEIGHT: 8–15 pounds
- Lifespan: 9-14 years
All You Need to Know about the Turkish Angora Cat Breed Characteristics
Turkish Angoras have a friendly and sociable personality, so they thrive in a home with lots of love and attention. Compared to other cats, the Turkish Angora is somewhat needy and does not like to be alone. He appreciates the constant company of his owner or other pets.
Turkish Angoras also have a lot of energy and can get into mischief—especially when bored. Opening cabinets, turning on the faucet, or knocking things off the table are just a few examples of orneriness that Angoras can exhibit when they want a little extra attention.
| Affection Level: Medium to High | Friendliness: Medium to High |
| Kid-Friendly: Medium | Pet-Friendly: Medium |
| Exercise Needs: High | Playfulness: High |
| Energy Level: High | Intelligence: High |
| Tendency to Vocalize: Low | Amount of Shedding: Low |
History Of Turkish Angora Cat
As the name suggests, the Turkish Angora originated in Turkey. In the 16th century, the city of Ankara (formerly Angora) was home to many animals with long, fine, silky hair—including goats, rabbits, and what many believe to be the first long-haired cats.
The Turkish Angora quickly caught the attention of European cat fans. But when Persian cats gained popularity in the early 1900s, breeders began using Angoras primarily in their Persian breeding programs.
As a result, Angoras almost disappeared as a separate breed. Fortunately, the Ankara Zoo set out to save this beautiful breed. They developed a breeding program that focused on preserving cats with white coats and blue, golden, or strange eyes.
For years, Turkish Angoras mostly stayed in their country of origin. But when American soldiers reported seeing the breed at the Ankara Zoo, interest in the United States began to grow.
The zoo initially resisted exporting the cats. It was not until 1962 that they introduced a breeding pair to Colonel and Mrs. Walter Grant. The resulting litter became the foundation of the Angora breeding program in the US.
The Cat Fanciers Association accepted white angoras for championship competitions in 1972, followed by colored angoras in 1978.
Appearance of Turkish Angora:
Turkish Angoras are delicately built cats that have been described as ballerina-like. Their silky coat is long but single-layered, making them low maintenance. Hair is shiny and shines in the sunlight.
The Angora was originally considered a stark white cat with blue or green eyes. Today, the breed standard includes a variety of colors and variations, including Himalayan, calico, tortoiseshell, and tabby with any eye color.
The temperament of This Cat Breed:
The Turkish Angora is highly intelligent. Pam Nichols, DVM, president of the American Animal Hospital Association, says they are incredibly social cats who develop strong bonds with their family units, though they may often prefer to bond with one person in particular.
Turkish Angoras love vigorous play, either with their human companions or on their own. A variety of toys will keep them entertained, and their independent streaks mean they can do well if left on their own for a few hours.
Deafness is a trait that runs in the Turkish Angora. This does not seem to affect their quality of life, and deaf angoras live normal, healthy lives, according to the Cat Fanciers Association. However, they may be louder than normal when vocalizing, as they cannot hear and modulate their own vocalizations.
The Sociable and Curious Personality of the Turkish Angora:
Angoras evoke strong responses in their humans with their symmetry, intelligence, and devotion. Angoras bond completely with their owners; Angoras are not happy unless they are in the middle of whatever you are doing. They enjoy good conversation and can hold their end of a debate with the best of them.
Angoras are good-natured but determined. Once Angora gets an idea in their head, you might as well give up and leave yourself with a long argument. Angoras have a great need to play and enjoy good-natured pranks on their favorite humans from time to time. They like to practice their thrusts on scraps of paper or unsuspecting human toes, whatever catches their fancy.
When in movement, which is most of the time, Angora seems to flow with the grace of the dancers. Highly intelligent, Angoras are problem solvers who like to be in control of their surroundings; They will tolerate being occupied for only a few minutes before jumping down to bask in the sun’s rays and chase feathers. They will remain in the room, however, so you can admire their antics. The Angora is known for its swimming skills, and will occasionally dive for a swim. Not every Turkish Angora enjoys water, but some do with varying degrees of enthusiasm.
The Most Common Health Issues in Turkish Angoras:
For a long time in the 19th century and earlier, it was believed that all Turkish Angoras were deaf. While that’s certainly not the case, it’s a bigger problem than most in the breed. There appears to be a link between the gene for white fur and blue eyes and race hearing. As such, white cats with blue eyes are more likely to be deaf than average. This possibility also extends to odd-eyed cats, whose blue eyes are deaf on the side.
Hereditary ataxia is a rare but serious condition in some Turkish Angora kittens. Kittens affected by ataxia may move and may not survive into adulthood.
Another genetic disease that is rare but known to the breed is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a cardiac condition usually seen between the ages of 2-6 years, with male cats being more affected.
“Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can be manageable, but at some point, a cat who has it may go into heart failure,” says Michelle Beck, DVM, CCRT, CVA, of the Becklund Animal Clinic in Omaha, Neb. “When it comes to congestive heart failure, life expectancy is usually about a year after diagnosis.”
Nichols also says that Turkish Angoras can be susceptible to chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is a chronic loss of kidney function over time. According to the Cornell Feline Health Center, there is no cure, but treatments are available.
How Do You Need to Care for Your Turkish Angora Cat?
Despite the delicate, luxurious appearance of the Turkish Angora, grooming is relatively easy. Because Turkish Angoras have a single coat, they are less prone to tangles and matting. Simply brush your cat’s coat once a week to remove debris and bathe as needed. Fortunately, many Turkish Angoras love the water and are natural swimmers, so bath time may not be as challenging as you might imagine.
Like all cats, your Turkish Angora can be susceptible to periodontal disease if proper dental hygiene is not practiced. Daily brushing is ideal, but weekly brushing will give your cat some protection.
Be sure to check your cat’s ears weekly for dirt, debris, or signs of infection. If your cat’s ears are dirty, gently clean the ears with a soft, cotton cloth. Avoid ear swabs, as they can damage the delicate, inner-ear structure.
Because Turkish Angoras have high energy levels, you should plan to exercise your cat for 15 to 30 minutes each day. Playing with cat toys is a fun, easy way to help your Turkish Angora expend some energy.
It is highly recommended to keep your Angora indoors at all times for safety.
Best Food For A Turkish Angora Cat:
- Hill’s Prescription Diet y/d with Chicken Wet Cat Food
- Hill’s Prescription Diet y/d Chicken Flavor Dry Cat Food
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult Chicken Recipe Cat Food
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult Ocean Fish Entrée Cat Food
How to Feed a Turkish Angora Kitten?
Turkish Angoras generally thrive on the nutrition of quality adult cat food. For Angoras who need help with weight management, consider the Healthy Weight Formula.
Turkish Angora kittens should eat kitten food for the first year of their lives to help them grow and develop.
The Basics of Turkish Angora Grooming:
Angora’s coat rarely has tangles or mats. And because they don’t have an undercoat, shedding is minimal. Occasional brushing is all that is needed to keep them looking their best.
Most cats require monthly trimming to prevent their nails from getting too long. Long nails are more likely to break and tear or get damaged on something. They can also grow in your cat’s paw pads, leading to pain or infection. In addition to clipping, providing a scratching post will allow your cat to do some nail maintenance themselves (thanks to their tendency to scratch).
No grooming routine is complete without some dental hygiene. To support your Angora’s overall health, brush their teeth daily and schedule appointments with your veterinarian for professional dental cleanings and exams.
The Basics of Positive Reinforcement Training for Turkish Angoras:
Makes them fast learners. Not only will you see them respond to obvious requests like sit, down, and come (yes, you didn’t say the command), but they’ll also be willing and able to learn other tricks, leashes, and choosing a home. Conditions, such as using a scratching post instead of your favorite chair to sharpen their claws.
The Best Ways to Exercise with a Turkish Angora:
You should make sure you provide plenty of toys for your pet – both ones that involve you and ones that they can play with on their own. As long as they get some activity every day they will be happy. The rest of the time, they’ll be thrilled to sit on your lap.
They also need a good amount of mental stimulation, or they will get bored. Try to provide toys that make them think.
Finding the Perfect Match – Tips for Choosing the Right Turkish Angora for You:
The Most Adorable Turkish Angora Kitten Videos You Need to See:
See More Related Cat Breeds:
- British Shorthair
- American Shorthair Cat
- American Eskimo Dog
- French Bulldog Mix
- Blue Nose Pitbull
- Black and white cats
- Dalmatian
people also ask(FAQ)
Did you find this guide helpful? Share your thoughts in the comments! 🐶👇