Turkish Angora Cat

• Turkish Angora Cat size: Medium height, slim
• Classification: Semi-long-haired cat
• Color: Including all varieties with white
• Body care: Comb every now and then
• Character: Self-confident, social, playful, intelligent
• Turkish Angora Cat Origin: Türkiye
• Weight: 3 kg – 5 kg (male), 2.5 kg to 4 kg (female)
• Eyes: Large, almond-shaped
• Life expectancy: 15 to 18 years
• Nutrition: Wet food with a high meat content or fresh meat

Origin and History of the Turkish Angora Cat

Records of the Turkish Angora can be found as far back as the 16th century, and even the Prophet Muhammad is said to have owned a Turkish Angora. To this day, it is called “Ankara kedisi” in Turkish, which translates as “cat from Ankara (Angora)” and it is also the national animal of Turkey. In winter, the Turkish Angora’s warm undercoat provided perfect protection against the icy winds of the southern Caucasus; in summer, its fur thins out considerably, making it insensitive to heat. Its gentle and elegant nature quickly made it popular in the region. But it was not until the 1980s that the Turkish government permitted its export and thus its breeding worldwide.

This is what the Turkish Angora looks like

A Turkish Angora differs in many ways from the well-known semi-long-haired breeds such as 
the Maine Coon or Siberian cat : its fur has considerably less undercoat, which is why it is less voluminous. In return, the long top coat is very smooth and silky. Its physique is also unique for a semi-long-haired cat : the elongated, muscular and graceful body is supported by slender legs, which gives it a certain grace. The bushy tail is long and does not lose its fullness even in summer.

The most common colour is white – this is also where the odd-eyed colour feature of the eyes, where one eye is blue and one yellow, occurs particularly often. But be careful: in this case, the cat’s hearing on the side of the blue eye may be impaired. Breeders should therefore be able to prove that both parents have passed an audiometric hearing test without any problems. Apart from that, the beautiful fur of the Turkish Angora can come in any colour, only chocolate, lilac, fawn and point markings are not desired. There are also no restrictions on eye color.

The Turkish Angora: Character and Attitude

With the Turkish Angora you are bringing a playful and intelligent cat into your home, but one that also wants and should be constantly challenged. It loves creative or challenging toys and mental exercises. This clever little cat also learns small tricks or retrieving very quickly. But it should also be given plenty of petting, as the Turkish Angora is very people-oriented and social. For these reasons, it should not be kept alone: ??It only retains its zest for life and its lively nature if it receives sufficient attention.

A playmate is essential! Loneliness is also taboo for the Turkish Angora cat. Otherwise, the cozy cat is a very uncomplicated pet and forgives even newcomers to cat ownership for the odd mistake. Its care is not very extensive either: It is enough to brush the Turkish Angora weekly to remove loose hair, otherwise it manages to keep its fur clean on its own.

Care, Health and Diseases

The Turkish Angora is a very robust cat breed that does not have a tendency to develop any particular disease. However, you should still have your cat checked by a vet once a year.

The Turkish Angora also does not tend to be overweight, which is mainly due to the fact that it loves to move around. However, the apartment should be designed in such a way that the Angora can live out its need for movement.