Turkish Angora: Unveiling the Graceful Cat Breed's Traits and Care

Known for its slender, elegant body and silky fur, the Turkish Angora is cherished in its homeland of Turkey. Despite their delicate appearance and small size, Turkish Angoras are affectionate and playful with their owners, children, and other pets (as long as the other pets recognize that the Angora is in charge).

Discover more about the history, temperament, care, and health of the Turkish Angora.

Breed Overview

Other Names: Ankara cat

Personality: Playful, social, intelligent, mischievous, and occasionally bossy with other pets

Weight: Up to 9 pounds

Length: Up to 18 inches

Coat Length: Long hair

Coat Colors: White with lavender, chocolate

Coat Patterns: Tabby, solid, bicolor, Himalayan, calico, tortoiseshell, and colorpoint

Eye Color: Light blue, sapphire, emerald, green-gold, gold, amber, copper, or two different colors

Lifespan: Up to 15 years

Hypoallergenic: Yes

Origin: Turkey

Turkish Angora Characteristics

The Turkish Angora boasts a friendly and sociable nature, thriving in a home filled with love and attention. Compared to other cats, the Turkish Angora can be somewhat needy and dislikes being left alone. They appreciate constant companionship from their owners or other pets.

Turkish Angoras are high-energy and can become mischievous, especially when bored. They might open cabinets, turn on faucets, or knock items off tables to capture attention.

History of the Turkish Angora

Unlike many "man-made" cat breeds, the Turkish Angora naturally appeared in Turkey around the 15th century. It is believed to descend from the African wildcat, with its long, silky hair resulting from either a spontaneous mutation or evolution to adapt to Ankara's harsh, snowy climate (formerly Angora).

Legends trace Turkish Angoras back to Mohammad, founder of the Islamic faith, who adored cats and once cut off his sleeve to avoid waking the tabby-patterned Turkish Angora sleeping on his robe.

The earliest written reference to Turkish Angora cats is from 16th-century France, suggesting they began appearing in Britain and France in the late 15th century. By the 1700s, Turkish Angoras had been imported to the Americas.

Turkish Angoras were shown at early cat shows in the late 19th century, which led Persian breeders to incorporate them into their programs. Unfortunately, this caused their numbers to dwindle in Europe. In response, Turkish Angoras became "treasures" in Turkey, where a breeding program was set up at Ankara Zoo to preserve them.

In the 1950s, American servicemen stationed in Turkey were captivated by the Turkish Angoras at the zoo. Although the breeding program was hesitant to part with any cats, two were gifted to Colonel and Mrs. Walter Grant. These cats laid the foundation for the American Turkish Angora breeding program. Over the years, more Americans brought the breed home, propagating it across the United States.

The Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) started accepting white Turkish Angoras in 1968, with colored varieties following in 1978. Today, Turkish Angoras are also recognized by the International Cat Fanciers Association.

Turkish Angora Care

The Turkish Angora can be a delightful family pet, but it requires specific grooming and exercise to remain happy and healthy.

Grooming

Despite its delicate and luxurious appearance, grooming a Turkish Angora is relatively simple. Its single coat is less prone to tangles and matting; simply brush your cat weekly to remove debris, and bathe as needed. Fortunately, many Turkish Angoras love water and are natural swimmers, making bath time easier than expected.

Like all cats, your Turkish Angora can develop periodontal disease without proper dental hygiene. Daily brushing is ideal, but brushing weekly will offer 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 structures.

Exercise

Because the Turkish Angora has higher 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.

These cats also enjoy being up high, so giving your Turkish Angora tall, multi-level cat trees and cat shelves can be a great way to ensure they’ll be able to get the views they crave safely.

Keeping your Angora indoors at all times is highly recommended for safety. If you want to take your cat outside for some exercise and fun, you can use a cat leash and harness, outdoor cat enclosure, or cat stroller.

Common Health Problems

The Turkish Angora is a generally healthy cat, but some of the common feline health issues seen in Turkish Angoras are:

• Deafness: White Angoras with one or two blue eyes are prone to deafness in one or both ears.

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: This is a type of heart disease characterized by the enlargement of the heart muscle.

• Ataxia: This is a fatal neuromuscular disorder that affects kittens aged 2 to 4 weeks.

• Chronic kidney disease (CKD): This is the most common kidney disease in cats, and it causes the kidneys to lose their ability to function properly.

Whether your cat is pedigreed or non-pedigreed, there's no guarantee that they will—or won't—develop certain health conditions. If you're concerned about your Turkish Angora's health, talk to your veterinarian about steps you can take to ensure a long, happy, healthy life.

Appearance

Turkish Angoras are delicately built cats that have been described as ballerina-like. However, the Angoras that are from the Ankara Zoo in Turkey have a slightly different build. Their silky coat is long but single-layered, making it low maintenance. The hair tends to be wispy and shimmers in the sunlight.

Angoras were originally considered strictly white cats with blue or green eyes. Today, the breed standard includes a variety of colors and variations, including Himalayan, calico, tortoiseshell, and tabby with virtually any eye color.

Diet and Nutrition

Your Angora's diet depends largely on their age, sex, and activity levels. If you're not sure how much to feed your cat, check the feeding guide from your favorite cat food, or talk to your veterinarian.

Overfeeding can lead to obesity, which can lead to a host of other health problems, so it's important to maintain a healthy, balanced diet for your Turkish Angora.

Where to Adopt or Buy a Turkish Angora

A Turkish Angora from a reputable breeder might cost anywhere from $650 and $2,000.

If you choose to work with a breeder, it's important to do your research and ensure they have an ethical, reputable program. Be alert to signs of an unethical program, like extremely frequent litters of kittens or the ability to pay for your kitten online. If you're able to visit the breeding site, large volumes of cats and unhealthy or sick-looking cats are indicators of poor breeding practices.

Turkish Angoras are relatively uncommon in the United States, so it may be difficult to find one through your local shelter or rescue organization. Check websites like PetFinder, which allows you to search for cats by breed, or ask your local shelter, vet, or a reputable breeder if they know of any Turkish Angoras that need a home.

Turkish Angora Overview

Cat fanciers who enjoy the occasionally mischievous antics of a highly intelligent (and easily bored) cat will adore the Turkish Angora. This silky, affectionate feline loves attention from humans and other pets, and is not afraid to demand it. The Angora's luxurious coat requires very little brushing and sheds minimally, so it is easy to care for. Plus, this breed is naturally quite healthy compared to many of its pedigreed cousins.

Pros of Turkish Angoras

• Beautiful and low-maintenance

• Sociable and animated

• Enjoys the company of people and other pets

Cons of Turkish Angoras

• Gets bored easily and doesn't like being alone

• Can make mischief if ignored

• Difficult to find

More Cat Breeds and Further Research

If you’re interested in similar breeds, check out:

• Persian

• Siberian

• Oriental Longhair

Otherwise, check out all of our other cat breed profiles.