Turkish Angora

Cat lovers are enjoying a resurgence of a beautiful, elegant breed once thought to be extinct -- the Turkish Angora. In the last thirty years, due to new importation from Turkey, the breed's country of origin, the Turkish Angora has again taken its place among the favored pedigreed cats of the world.

Although for generations people have used the word Angora to signify any longhaired cat, the only purebred Angora is the Turkish Angora that traces its ancestry back to Turkey. The Turkish Angora is a pure, natural breed of cat, originating probably from the Manul cat domesticated by the Tartars. They migrated eventually to Turkey where they are regarded with great reverence as one of the national treasures.

The Turkish Angora was brought to the attention of the known world, when the crusaders returning from the “holy wars” in the east, brought them to Europe with other treasures garnered as spoils of war. In 1620-1625, a French scholar named Fabri de Peiresc imported several pure white cats from Ancyre, the ancient name for Ankara. The kittens he bred were given to friends in the highest circles of France. One of his first kittens was given to Cardinal de Richelieu, the French statesman.

In the 18th century, Louis XV as well Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were great lovers of this ethereal breed. Many paintings from this period show Angoras in various colors. Black, tortoiseshell, red, etc.
In the 19th century many Angoras were imported from France to the USA. Some were white but they also came in a variety of beautiful shades.
In the twentieth century the Angora was extensively crossbred with the Persian, leading eventually to the virtual extinction of the breed in this country. All the resultant cats having longhair were known simply as Longhairs.

In 1962, some American military personnel discovered Turkish Angoras in the Ankara Zoo, in a breeding program dating back some forty-five years. They brought back several pairs to the United States, rekindling a new interest in this ancient breed. This interest flared until now, this tall, slender cat with its silky, medium length coat, is loved and bred in all countries that enjoy the beauty and pleasure of pedigreed cats.

Some of the earliest breeders of Turkish Angora in the United States were Col. & Mrs. Walter Grant, the first known importer from the Ankara Zoo; Mrs. Lynn Pierce of Kenlyn, importing from the Istanbul Zoo; Mrs. Gisela Stoscheck of Tai-Phoon, importing with her friend from Turkish individuals and Mrs. Thornton of Thornton’s Desert. Slightly later there were Ms. Barbara Azan of Azima, Mr. & Mrs. Glen Hendrickson of Kukkula Acres, Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Torio of Torio, Ms. Carolyn McLoughlin of Shamba-Letu, Ms. Freddie Sue Pickering of Tamiami and Mrs. Elaine Gesel of NoRuz. Many of these pioneers are no longer with us or have stopped breeding. However, we still have the legacy of their bloodlines for which we should be very grateful.

CFA Turkish Angora Standard

The ideal Turkish Angora is a balanced, graceful cat with a fine, silky coat that shimmers with every movement, in contrast to the firm, long muscular body beneath it.
The head is a medium long, smooth wedge with a smooth and pointed muzzle, having no whisker pads or pinch. The profile is two straight li

nes formed by the top head and the line of the nose.
The ears are large, tall and have tufts at the tips; set very closely together, high on the head, vertical and erect. The eyes are large, almond-shaped, slanting slightly upward with an open expression.
Eye color can be any shade of green, gold, green-gold, copper, blue, or odd-eyed. All colors are acceptable for show, except those with the Himalayan pattern.
Popular colors at this time are: the solids; white, black, blue; the tabbies, brown, blue, silver, cameo, red, cream; the particolors; tortoiseshell, bluecream, patched tabby and the smokes; cameo, black, blue. These colors plus any of the above with white, are those seen most frequently at our shows
The Angora is a medium sized cat. Males being slightly larger than females.
The coat is single, meaning that there is no undercoat. They require practically no grooming, but a regular combing and nail trimming will keep the cat more comfortable and fit, as well as keeping shedding to a minimum.

Elegant, regal and opinionated are the perfect words to describe the Turkish Angora.
Elegant…. Oh yes! When a lithe Turkish Angora sits up tall on its long, fine-boned legs; a silken sheen of gossamer fur dripping from its slender graceful neck; its delicately pointed face and large, expressive, almond shaped eyes; having a crown of large, pointed, tufted ears set high atop its head; it is no wonder that our breeders and the Turkish people are so enthralled with this regal creature.

Turkish Angoras have roamed the countryside and villages of Turkey, virtually unchanged through many centuries. The character that has led to their survival is strongly instinctual and very intelligent. They are a very hardy breed, having few if any health problems.

These days, they adapt well to living with humans, but they still maintain their strong personality traits. Anyone who has ever owned one will tell you that. An Angora may reward you with exuberant affection, entertain you with its sense of humor and love to show off. However, once an Angora makes up its mind, not even the most clever of us can change it.

Angoras adore their owners, whom they will follow about the house trying to "help", no matter what the task. They are extremely inquisitive and must know exactly what you are doing at all times. They will search your closets and drawers and even your purse, looking for heaven knows what. I often find myself asking a cat with its nose in my purse, ”Did you put something in there?”
They are a very athletic breed, loving nothing better than leaping to the top of a door and to make it swing to and fro. You will wonder how they can possibly reach the high places in which you will find them. They find it no problem and will wonder why you don't come right on up to join them.

The kittens are little imps from the moment they begin to walk. They are fuzzy little balls of fur, scampering around the house. They are loving and lovable even at this age. Their coat usually starts to change at the age of nine weeks. It becomes silky and starts the process toward the mature, silky coat. As teenagers (4-8 months), the coat is rather short, having just a fluffy tail and a little bit of britches and belly fur. As they near eight months, the coat lengthens and fills out. The mature coat is finally attained at about two years or earlier when the cat is neutered or spayed.

Having an Angora in your house is a rare and wonderful thing. The Angora is a unique mixture of intense love, intense curiosity and much humor. You won't ever be lonely or bored. Life can never be dull with one or more of these lovable rascals in your home.