The Turkish Angora Cat

The Turkish Angora cat is an ancient, naturally occurring breed, originally from the Angora or Ankara region of Turkey. In the 16th century Turkish Sultans sent these beautiful cats to French and English nobility. Probably the first long-haired cats seen in Europe, they were wildly popular until Persian cats arrived with an even fuller coat and more exotic appearance.  The Angora is quite a different cat from the Persian. Lean, lithe, athletic and active, they will take to your lap, but would like a little action first. Sometimes a little shy, always gentle and eternally gorgeous, the Angora is one of the true icons of the cat world.

 Cool Cat Facts...
Though the classic Turkish Angora is gleaming white with blue or odd colored eyes, the breed standard allows for more than twenty colors including calico, tabby, black, and parti-color.                                                                      

Is A Turkish Angora Cat Right For You?

The Turkish Angora cat is recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA), the world's largest cat organization. It is a relatively common pure-bred or "pedigreed" domestic cat breed. This is surely one of the oldest cat breeds. The Angora comes in any color or pattern with white and silver being most common. The coat is semi-long and silky with no undercoat. Moderate grooming is desired. These are slender, small-sized cats that have few breed-related health issues, but deafness is common in blue-eyed individuals. Because it is active and desires interaction, the Turkish Angora can be a nice cat for the right family but it is very sensitive to rough or boisterous handling, and noisy environments. There are better choices for young, enthusiastic children.  See kid-friendly cat breeds.

Turkish Angora Cat Breed Standards

Head Shape: The head should be small to medium in size proportion to the body. The forehead is long and smooth, chin firm and rounded, high cheekbones. The ears are wide, tall, pointed and with tufts desirable. The eyes are almond shaped,slanted and very large. The desired color is amber, but blue and odd-eyed cats are often seen in the white color and odd-eyed are often highly prized.
Body and Tail: The body should be slim, long, and strong. Back limbs slightly longer than front. Long legs with medium size, well-knuckled feet. The feet have long feathering between the toes. The tail is long, straight, narrow and well-feathered, almost plume-like.
Coat: The coat should be full and medium-long, longer on the ruff, tail and thighs. The hair is generally straight but tends to waves on the belly.
Pattern: Solid colors and white with blue, black, cream or red. Solid white is the classic look.
Overall Appearance: This is a medium size cat with a long, slender and graceful appearance. The fur is silky and feathery with beautiful sheen.

Inside Cat or Outside Cat?

Wondering if you should allow your cat to go outside unsupervised? Well there are definitely some pure breeds that should never be outside cats. Hairless breeds like the Sphynx are extremely vulnerable and should always be supervised outdoors. Docile breeds like the Burmese may not be able to defend themselves. All cats allowed outdoors are exposed to diseases and parasites that they would not otherwise encounter. Fred Flintstone put his saber-tooth out every night, but the cat jumped right back in the window - and he was a saber-tooth! Still, most of us feel a little envy when we see our domestic companion out on some high perch, sniffing the breeze of liberty, and there is no doubt that cats love their freedom. So what do YOU think ....Inside Cat or Outside Cat? Comment Here...

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