Turkish Angora Cats

The Turkish Angora cat is a beautiful and elegant feline, that is believed to have originated in Turkey. Pure bred Turkish Angora cats can be found in Europe and America, but rarely in Britain. Cat breeds born as a result of interbreeding with the Angora cats, are not accepted by any cat breed association as a Turkish Angora cat.

Origin and Background
The origin of the Turkish Angora is not very clear. It was first found in Ankara, a city in Western Turkey, and is named after the city. It is said the local cats of that area were interbred with the long haired cats, brought by traders from Egypt. Some also say that they have descended from the African wildcat. It is believed to have been introduced in Europe in the 16th century and in US in the 18th century. However, by 1900s this feline breed was almost extinct due to interbreeding with the Persian cats. In 1917, the Turkish Government recognized it as a national pride and asset, and started breeding programs to preserve this cat breed from becoming extinct. In recent times, the popularity of the Turkish Angora cat has grown widely, and and is recognized by the The International Cat Association, Cat Fanciers Association and the American Cat Fanciers Association.

Physical Characteristics
The main characteristics of the Turkish Angora cat are its rich and silky overcoat and thick and fury tail. It is a long and slender, finely boned animal and is bestowed with large eyes which are shaped like an almond and big ears that are alert and pointed. The Turkish Angora is usually white in color, however, constant breeding has produced Angora cats in a variety of colors like red, cream, black and blue. They are also available in a variety of patterns like bi-color, tortoise shell, mackerel and smoky as well as shaded colors. Colors like lilac, chocolate, cinnamon, etc. are not accepted in a Turkish Angora as they are a result of inter breeding. The color of the eye is usually blue or amber, however, Turkish Angoras with any other eye color are also accepted.

Nature and Personality
Unlike normal cats that tend to be selfish, the Turkish Angora cat is friendly, mischievous and affectionate. It is an active cat, likes to play and loves to be with children rather than sitting idle. It is a great companion and likes to be with the owner while they do their household work. It is quite outgoing and socializes well with strangers and other pets in the house.

Health and Fitness
The Turkish Angora cats are said to be strong and healthy by nature and live for almost 15 years. The one main drawback found in this cat breed is that, white Turkish Angora with blue eyes tend to be deaf. These cats who also have one blue eye and the other amber, tend to be deaf on the side of the blue eye. Some of the cat breeds have hereditary problems like ataxia, that involves lack of muscle movements due to which the cat is not able to move and also dies at a very young age.

The Turkish Angora cat is believed to be a low maintenance cat. As it does not have an undercoat, frequent brushing and combing are not required. It is also not a fussy animal and eats whatever it is given, although it loves meat. It is a well behaved and caring cat. Bringing home a Turkish Angora cat will definitely fill your household with joy.