Turkish Angora

Is a Turkish Angora right for you?

The Turkish Angora is Türkiye's oldest native cat breed and the first known long-haired cat line in the world. Elegant, athletic, and surprisingly sociable. Not a quiet cushion cat but a companion that joins in with the household and pokes its nose into everything.

The most appreciated thing about this breed is that, despite being long-haired, it is easy to groom. There is almost no undercoat layer, so the matting problem seen in the Persian does not arise here.

Before you adopt

The Turkish Angora is also protected. The breeding centre at Ankara Zoo works to conserve the pure line, and rehoming is subject to rules.

The same warning that applies to the Turkish Van applies here: not every white, long-haired cat is a Turkish Angora. A genuine Turkish Angora is fine-boned, long-bodied, triangular-headed, and single-coated with silky hair. The breed is also not only white; black, grey, tabby, and other colours are included in the standard. White is the best-known colour, not the only one.

Because of the deafness risk associated with white coats and blue eyes, ask whether BAER testing has been done.

Temperament

The Turkish Angora is intelligent, curious, and extremely sociable. It greets visitors, inspects every cupboard you open, and sits on the desk you are working at. It does not like being alone.

It is talkative. Its meow is high and insistent; it tries to communicate with you and usually manages to make itself understood.

It is athletic and loves to climb. It prefers to sit at the highest point in the house. Although not as passionate about water as the Turkish Van, individuals with an interest in water are common.

It can be possessive; it forms a special bond with one person and follows them. Mild jealousy is seen in some individuals.

It keeps its kitten energy for many years.

Health issues and lifespan

Average lifespan is 15 to 18 years, among the longest of any cat breed. Being a natural breed keeps its genetic burden low.

• Deafness: The combination of a white coat and blue eyes is associated with hereditary deafness. In individuals with a single blue eye the ear on that side may be affected. Deaf cats live normally but must be kept strictly indoors. It can be detected as a kitten with a BAER test.
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM): Reported in this breed; periodic cardiac checks are recommended.
• Ataxia: An inherited condition seen in some lines, appearing in kittens as a disorder of movement coordination. It is rare but is a known breed problem.
• Sun sensitivity: White and unpigmented ear tips can be damaged by sun.
• Dental and gum disease: A general risk in cats.
• Obesity: A lower risk than in other breeds because it is active; even so, portion adjustment is needed after neutering.

Feeding

An adult Turkish Angora (2.5-5 kg) needs the energy equivalent of 45-70 g of dry food per day. It is a finely built breed, and overfeeding because it "looks thin" is a common mistake.

• Kitten (2-12 months): Kitten food, three to four meals a day.
• Adult: High protein, low carbohydrate.
• Senior (10+ years): Because this is a long-lived breed, monitoring in old age matters; kidney and thyroid values should be checked annually.

A fountain-type bowl and wet food help increase water intake.

Grooming and coat

One of the easiest to groom among long-haired breeds.

• Brushing once or twice a week is enough. Matting is rare because there is no undercoat.
• The winter coat is shed in spring; brushing frequency increases in that period.
• The tail is plumed and should not be forgotten during brushing.
• Bathing is generally unnecessary.
• Nails every two to three weeks.
• Teeth several times a week.
• Monthly ear checks.

The summer and winter appearance differ markedly; it is normal for the cat to look far shorter-coated in summer.

Living space and enrichment

1. Vertical space. A cat tree, wall shelves, access to the top of cupboards. This breed lives at height.
2. Active play twice a day. Wand toys, running. An intelligent and energetic cat becomes bored without play.
3. Social contact. If it will be alone for long periods, a second animal should be considered.
4. Food puzzles and trick training. This breed likes to learn; fetch, giving a paw, and coming when called can be taught.
5. A safe window. A screen is essential.
6. A scratching post. Vertical and tall; it should be able to stretch to full length.

It should live as an indoor cat.

History

The Turkish Angora developed naturally in central Anatolia and is accepted as the first known long-haired cat breed in the world. It was taken to Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries, attracting great interest among the aristocracy in France and England. The gene for long hair is thought to have passed into European cats through this line.

In the 19th century the rise of the Persian overshadowed the breed; moreover, Turkish Angoras were crossed intensively to "improve" the Persian line, and the pure line nearly disappeared in Europe.

What saved the breed was the conservation programme in Türkiye. From the middle of the 20th century, Ankara Zoo gathered pure Turkish Angoras and started a breeding and conservation programme. In the 1960s American breeders took cats from this programme and reintroduced the breed to the West; the CFA recognised it in the 1970s.

Today the breed's biggest problem is the use of its name for every white long-haired cat and the dilution of the pure line. If you are going to adopt a Turkish Angora, taking one from a registered line is a direct contribution to the breed's future.