Variety:
Turkish Angora
Country of origin:
Turkey
Colours:
Various colours
Weight:
3,1-5,4 kg
Durability:
15-18 years
Other names:
Turkish Angora, Ankara kedisi
Turkish Angora – a cat of magnificent beauty, with extraordinary grace and elegance. They are very curious, independent and proud cats whose playfulness lasts throughout their lives. The Turkish Angora is very attached to its owner, but of all the members of the family, it usually chooses the one „most important“ person to whom it shows the most attention, and expects the same from him.These cats are not intrusive, but they appreciate and seek the attention of their family members. The Turkish Angora is a tolerant cat, but if there are other animals in the house, it may compete for attention, which is very important to this cat.
History of the breed
Turkish Angora cats are said to be among the oldest cats in the world. However, unlike many other ancient cat breeds, the Turkish Angora was not considered special. On the contrary, these cats served as a towel to clean their hands. Between 1614 and 1626, the Italian aristocrat Pietro della Valle travelled through Turkey and Persia, where he discovered cats, which were very common but had never been seen before, and brought them to Europe. The breed also attracted the interest of the Frenchman Nicola-Claude Fabri, who was the first to breed Turkish Angora cats in Europe. After a while, Cardinal Richelieu also took an interest in the breed, and Turkish Angora cats began to gain popularity. Since then, the Turkish Angora cat has seen better days, being kept exclusively by aristocrats in Europe. Turkish Angora kittens were a highly prized gift and a great honour to receive. These cats were not only great companions – their wool was used to knit gloves and socks. When Tibetan cats arrived in Europe from China, they began to crossbreed with each other – it was hoped that their wool would be even more suitable for socks and gloves. the result of this crossbreeding was the Persian cat, which was so much admired that the Turkish Angora cat was virtually forgotten. Fortunately, at the beginning of the 20th century, a conservation programme for the Turkish Angora was launched. The programme started first in Istanbul, then in Germany from 1922 onwards, and in the 1950s the USA joined in. The International Cat Association registered the Turkish Angora cat in 1988.
Turkish Angora: appearance
The most important feature of the Turkish Angora is its long silky coat, which has only an upper covering layer. The coat covering the sides and head is longer and forms a very ornate „collar“. The tail coat is also long – the tail of the Turkish Angora cat is comparable to that of a fox. The colour of the fur varies widely, but in the past only pure white was recognised. The body of the Turkish Angora is graceful and elegant, not bulky but very muscular. The head, like the whole body, is quite long. The ears are large and pointed, extending the narrow triangular shape of the head. The distance between the eyes should be at least the width of one eye, the eyes are large, incisive, and may be blue, green, yellow (different colours may be present). Tail is long, tapering, thin (this will not be seen in long and dense coats). These cats usually weigh between 3,1 and 5,4 kg (females are smaller than males). The Turkish Angora reaches its „true“ size and weight at two years of age.
Turkish Angora: character
Although the Turkish Angora is typically affectionate, these cats are not everyone’s cup of tea. The Turkish Angora shows endless affection and devotion to its chosen owner: always greeting them on the way home from work, willingly sitting on their laps, inviting them to play with them, etc. These cats simply love to play games, and it is not difficult to get them to do so. The Turkish Angora is very sensitive to people’s moods and always comes to comfort them.