What is a Turkish Angora?  

One of the oldest breed of cats, originating from Ankara (formerly known as Angora), Turkey, the Turkish Angora is a most charming and elegant cat. They are a highly intelligent, agile, quick, playful, athletic, and curious cat, with a fairly high prey-drive. This breed of cat is sometimes talkative, expressive, and enjoys being in your business and being involved in the goings on of the home. They are excellent climbers of all things high, and some Turks will jump up onto your shoulders to be more involved. (Careful of those sharp nails)!

The Turkish Angora is a very social cat. They tend to welcome even strangers into their home with ease. However, most often they do not enjoy being picked up and carried around or snuggled for more than a few moments at a time. Even those Turks who are considered "snugglers" will often prefer to do so on their own terms and in their own time. Some like to snuggle up on their people's lap, while others prefer to either lounge at the foot of the chair or bed, or even curl up from a slight distance in their favorite cat bed or cat tree to keep an eye on the household.

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The Turkish Angora cat has often been likened to a dog-like personality because of their high intelligence and more social nature. Some can be trained to fetch and retrieve, while others do well with clicker training. Some even manage to deduce how to bat or pry open a cupboard door and make themselves at home among your pots and pans. They typically get along quite well with other animals, but will often establish themselves as the alpha pet in the home.

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Cats are pack animals.  And because of their high social nature, it is not recommended to keep only 1 Turkish Angora in the home. It is preferred that Turkish Angora cats have at least one other Turk as playmate and companion. However, if the home already has another cat of some other breed, as long as it is fairly active, and close in age to your new Turk, your kitten will likely be content.  
 

Turkish Angora's are, as a general rule, an active breed. Like all cats, they do sleep quite a lot, especially during the day. But they tend to be more active then the average house cat, and will require a good deal of your time and attention, as well as a nice selection of interactive toys. It is never recommended to leave a Turkish Angora home alone for long hours of the day without company, as they will get bored. And bored cats can become depressed and/or destructive to the home.

 

Turkish Angora cats are not for everyone!

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Turkish Angoras can be very demanding on your time. They often like to be in your business, and involved in whatever you're doing. They don't often take "no" or "later" as an option!  

 

They are NOT hypoallergenic. They do shed, and they do produce dander. Most people who suffer cat allergies also find they are allergic to the Turkish Angora.  KayaKedi highly recommends that for the prospective first-time Turk-owner, if at all possible, try visiting a home with a genuine Turkish Angora*, interact with them, and decide if this is the right pet for you.

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Some Turks enjoy jumping up on the shoulders of their family members. This can be scary or intimidating to kids, and even some adults. If this is not a trait you would enjoy, or at least tolerate, please consider another cat breed.

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This breed of cat can be very stubborn. When they get something in their mind to do, it can be very difficult to redirect them. And because of their high intelligence, they are very good at deduction. It can take them little time to problem-solve.

 

For those of us who have been enchanted by the looks, antics, and personality of the Turkish Angora cat, most other breeds simply fall short.

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Physical Characteristics

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Turkish Angoras are a medium-sized feline with semi-long hair that is exquisitely soft and silky to the touch. They are finely-boned, long-legged, with a well-muscled body.

 

The coat of the Turkish Angora is very fine, and rarely mats. Brushing once a week helps to remove loose hairs and keep their coat in peak condition.

 

Though white has often been considered the traditional color for this breed, and odd-eyed whites are considered a national treasure in their home country of Turkey, Turkish Angoras actually come in all colors and patterns. All-white cats can have either blue eyes, odd-eyes (1 blue and 1 green), yellow-gold eyes, green eyes, or amber eyes. Colored cats almost never have blue or odd-eyes, though there are those exceptions to the rule.

 

The body of the Turkish Angora is long and sleek, with a wedge head that is wider at the forehead, then tapering off to a more narrow and angular chin. Turks have walnut-shaped eyes, a long poofy tail, upright ears that end with a small tuft at the tips, a distinctive mane around their neck and britches area, and small tufts of hair on the bottom of their paw pads and between their toes.  In the winter their coat thickens considerably, making them look much larger than they actually are. And in the spring they blow their coat (shed) to prepare for the warmer climates.

 

If you're looking for an affectionate cat that combines elegance and grace with beauty and athleticism, the Turkish Angora might just be the right cat for you. They are indeed the original "Aristocat."

However, consider carefully. Do your homework and research this breed. Compare your own personality, and your family/home dynamics, with the needs and character traits of this breed. The Turkish Angora is not for everyone. 

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Some Turks are the typical lap-cat. But most are not. Some enjoy being cuddled and handled often, whereas others will let you know their displeasure about over-handling. Some can be quite chatty, some are rather quiet and standoffish, and others are somewhere in the middle.

It is important to know that the Turkish Angora cat, like all breeds of cat, have their own distinctive personalities from their siblings. No 2 Turks are exactly alike. When selecting any new pet for your home, it is wise to learn about the pet's personality traits, as much as is possible at a young age, to determine if that particular kitten is right for your family dynamics. By 8 weeks of age, a cats' behavior patterns is, for the most part, fully developed. A good breeder is one who will study and interact with their kittens from birth, and inform you of what traits each kitten exhibits before you select your furrever feline friend.

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Please Note:

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*Most shelter cats who are classified as "Turkish Angora" or "Turkish Angora Mix" are neither. Unless the cat being adopted comes with their personal pedigree certificate, it is likely that the cat is actually just a common mixed household pet that displays one or more traits common to the Turkish Angora.

 

If you are specifically looking for a true Turkish Angora cat, purchase from a reputable breeder who will provide you with your cat's pedigree, or a "blue slip" that allows you to register your cat. (If the parents of the kitten you are purchasing are NOT registered, your kitten will not be registerable as a pedigree).

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KayaKedi Turkish Angora cattery is no longer actively breeding.

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The following link is to the Turkish Angora TICA website:

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The 2 Facebook links below keep a list of active breeders under their "files" section. Please feel free to search their listings to find a breeder that's right for you.

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