Turkish Angora cats nearly went extinct in the 1900s but thanks to a concerted breeding effort at the Ankara Zoo, the breed was been saved, although it is still very rare. Now Turkey takes conserving its ‘national’ cat very seriously and won’t even consider mixing it with other breeds, no matter how similar in looks.
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The most common color for Turkish angoras is white, but other colors are becoming popular, including solid black, blue, red and cream, blue-cream, bi-colored, tortoiseshell and spotted. They’re energetic and agile and love to be the center of attention, so be prepared to be at your angora’s beck and call.
Turkish angora cats are very rare; you will need to hunt around for a reputable breeder and might even have to find breeders in Turkey who would be willing to put you on a waiting list for a kitten. You can try your luck and approach breed-specific rescue organisations to try and find angoras that have been surrendered.
Turkish Angora Facts & Information
Life expectancy: 9 – 17 years
Size: Height: 24 inches. Weight: 6 – 12 lb.
Temperament: Turkish angora cats are quick and agile with the personality to match. They’re affectionate extroverts who’ve retained a strong hunting instinct. They do so like to give you ‘presents’. They do well with children, provided the children know how to behave responsibly and respectfully towards Kitty. They’re very confident cats and won’t hesitate to bring any other household pets to heel.
Exercise: Because Turkish angoras are naturally so active, they have no problem maintaining their sleek, muscular physiques. You can also help out by playing energetic chase games with dangle toys and by providing a variety of cat trees for them to climb, scratch and hide in. The higher the trees the better because there’s nothing an angora cat likes more than a good high-up view.
General care: Turkish angora cats have soft, silky semi-longhaired coats that are happily easy to maintain. They only need brushing once a week to get rid of dead and loose hair. You may want to increase the rate of brushing when they shed in summer though to prevent hairballs.
Health concerns: Turkish angoras don’t suffer from many breed-specific health problems or medical issues, but it’s worth noting that many of the white cats with blue eyes are deaf and that they can be prone to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Final word
Turkish angora cats love attention, so if you ‘accidentally’ stop before Kitty is ready, they will remind you to continue. You ignore them at your peril, as they are not above acting out to get your attention. They’re very intelligent and will solve most problems in their way. Don’t be surprised when the figure out how to get in the bathroom while you’re having a bath. It’s also only a matter of time before they can open drawers to climb up to the highest viewpoint. They adapt well to most living conditions, so they’re good for families with children and other pets, child-free couples and singles and first-time cat owners. However, you need to provide an outlet for all their energy. And you definitely need to realize that Kitty is the boss.