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Turkish Angora Breed Summary
Outgoing, Affectionate and Intelligent
These cats are well suited to any home where they’ll be appreciated and adored. They get along well with other pets, including fellow felines and dogs – so long as the dogs realise who’s in charge. A clever kitty, the Turkish Angora is quick to open doors and turn on taps! An active, somewhat demanding cat, the beautiful Turkish Angora is easy to forgive for their wilful ways.
Fun Fact: Turkish Angoras tend to be pawsome swimmers. You may even find yours wanting to take a dip in the bath, shower or swimming pool with you!
| Lifespan | 12 - 16 years |
| Height (at the withers) | Males and Females: 20cm – 25cm |
| Weight | Males and Females: 2.5kg – 5.5kg |
| Coat | Short, soft and silky coat |
| Colour | Base colours are platinum, champagne, blue and natural; patterns are solid, mink, and point |
| Eye colour | Yellow, green, blue, gold |
| Common health issues | Amyloidosis, asthma, congenital heart defects, crossed eyes, hyperesthesia syndrome, lymphoma, nystagmus, progressive retinal atrophy |
| Other Names | The Turkey |
While they can have lovely manners, this active kitty certainly has a boisterous side and combined with their intelligence, they’re endlessly entertaining. The Angora is likely to keep this kitten-like playfulness well into old age too.
A social breed, while this cat doesn’t shy away from guests, they like their own humans best. These kitties are best suited to homes that have a feline friend for them to play with if their people aren’t home all day. When you return home, your Angora may drape itself across your shoulders or settle comfortably into your lap.
In 1520, a longhair white cat was brought to Europe from Ankara. With their gorgeous coat, this breed was fascinating to fanciers in Europe, but they were surpassed in popularity by the Persian. The Turkish Angora was then largely ignored and sadly, almost became extinct in Europe. If it hadn’t been kept in the zoo in Turkey, the breed may have been lost entirely.
In the 1960s, an American couple visited Turkey and fell in love with the Turkish Angoras they saw in the zoo. With permission, they brought some of these cats back to the US, where they were actively bred.
By the mid-1960s, recognition for the breed was sought from the Cat Fanciers Association. The CFA began registering the cats in 1968 and white Turkish Angoras gained full recognition in 1972. By 1978, coloured Turkish Angoras were also recognised.