Turkish AngoraCharacteristics, history, behaviour and care
Turkish Angora at a cat show. · Nickolas Titkov / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0). Cropped and resized.
The Turkish Angora (in Turkish “Ankara kedisi”, the cat from Ankara) is one of the old natural breeds, from central Anatolia. It has been documented since the seventeenth century. It has a long, elegant body, a silky coat, usually white and shimmering, and a plume-like tail, often carried upright. It is playful, intelligent, athletic and very involved in family life.
Quick facts
| Common name | Turkish Angora (Ankara kedisi) |
| Scientific name | Felis catus |
| Country of origin | Turkey (Ankara province) |
| Official recognition | FIFe since 1988 (code TUA, category 2); CFA since 1973; TICA |
| Lifespan | Over 15 years (French Wikipedia) |
| Weight | 2.5–5 kg |
| Size | Medium |
| Body type | Long, slender, fine-boned, muscular |
| Coat type | Semi-long, silky, without undercoat; plumed tail |
| Common colours | Best known in white; many colours, but not chocolate, lilac or point |
| Eye colour | Large, almond-shaped: blue, green, amber, yellow or odd-eyed |
| Activity level | High |
| Temperament | Playful, intelligent, athletic, involved, without aggression |
| Good with children | Good for families |
| Good with other pets | We found no data in the sources |
| Genetic predispositions | Deafness in blue-eyed white cats, ataxia in kittens, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy |
- Primary category:Cat breeds
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History and origin
Like all domestic cats, it descends from the African wildcat. Longhaired cats were brought to Britain and France from Asia Minor, Persia and Russia as early as the late sixteenth century, and the Angora was recognised in Europe as a separate breed in the seventeenth century. The naturalist Buffon described and drew it in 1756.
For a long time it was confused with the Persian; in 1903, Frances Simpson wrote that the Angora seemed to have disappeared. In Turkey, the Atatürk Forest Farm and Zoo in Ankara started a programme to preserve white Angoras, especially odd-eyed ones. An Angora reached Canada in 1963, and CFA recognised the breed in 1973 (white only until 1978). FIFe recognised it in 1988.
How the breed developed
- The late sixteenth century – longhaired cats reach Europe from Asia Minor.
- 1756 – described and drawn by Buffon.
- 1963 – an Angora reaches Canada.
- 1973 – recognised by CFA.
- 1988 – recognised by FIFe.
At a glance: who is it right for?
- Active families. It stays playful all its life.
- People who want an attached cat. It often chooses one family member as its constant companion.
- People who want an easy-care cat, despite the long hair. It has no undercoat.
- Take care with blue-eyed white cats. They may be deaf.
Physical characteristics
It has a long, slender body with fine bones, but is muscular. It looks bigger because of its coat; French Wikipedia gives 2.5–5 kg.
General appearance
The head is small to medium, shaped like a smooth wedge. The eyes are large and almond-shaped, and the ears large, pointed and set wide apart. The bushy, plume-like tail is often carried upright, perpendicular to the back.
| Feature | Turkish Angora |
|---|---|
| Size | Medium |
| Weight | 2.5–5 kg |
| Body | Long, slender, fine-boned |
| Head | Smooth wedge, small to medium |
| Ears | Large, pointed |
| Eyes | Large, almond-shaped |
| Tail | Bushy, plume-like |
It is known for its shimmering white coat, but it can have many colours; chocolate, lilac and point are not accepted. The eyes can be blue, green, amber, yellow or odd-eyed.
Related breeds and how to tell them apart
The Turkish Van also comes from Turkey, but is a genetically different population and has colour only on the head and tail. The Persian was long confused with the Angora. Breeders in Turkey say that the fine-boned Western Angoras do not look like the real Turkish cats, which are much sturdier.
Behaviour and temperament
Wikipedia describes it as playful, intelligent, athletic and involved. It bonds with people, but often chooses one particular family member as its constant companion, whom it protects.
German Wikipedia says it is uncomplicated and gentle, very lively and a good jumper, without any aggression, and stays playful and curious all its life.
Socialisation
It stays playful all its life; its behaviour depends a lot on how it was raised as a kitten.
A kitten gets used to new people, noises and other animals most easily in its first months of life.
Habits at home
Like all cats, it sleeps a lot: usually 12–16 hours a day. It is most active early in the morning and in the evening, but partly adapts to the family's routine.
Cats instinctively bury their droppings, so it quickly learns to use a litter tray. It scratches rough surfaces to shed the old outer layer of its claws, so it needs a scratching post or board.
Life at home and activity
It is very active and jumps very well; it needs daily play and high places.
| Activity | How often | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Play with toys (wand toys, balls) | daily | Play imitates hunting and uses up its energy |
| Scratching post or board | always available | It looks after its claws without damaging the furniture |
| High places (cat tree, shelves) | always available | It has somewhere to watch from and to rest |
Tips for a balanced life
- Change its toys from time to time, so it does not get bored.
- Play with it in short sessions, several times a day.
- If it goes outside, let it do so in a fenced area or on a balcony with a safety net.
Care and health
Coat care
French Wikipedia says it is no trouble to groom, because it has no undercoat. Brushing once a week is enough, more often during moulting.
Common health problems
French Wikipedia describes it as robust, without any particular health problems. Wikipedia, however, says the gene that gives the white coat and blue eyes can cause deafness. Kittens with ataxia (a hereditary disease in which kittens cannot walk and die young) and adult cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy have been reported.
| Condition | Description | Common symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Deafness | Linked to the gene that gives the white coat and blue eyes | Does not react to sounds; sometimes deaf on one side only |
| Kitten ataxia | A hereditary disease of the nervous system | Kittens cannot walk normally |
| Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) | The heart wall thickens and the heart pumps less well. It is the most common heart disease in domestic cats | Often no signs at first; later rapid breathing, tiredness, sometimes sudden paralysis of the hind legs |
Recommended genetic tests
In white cats, hearing can be checked with a special test (BAER). Also ask for the parents' heart ultrasound.
Is it hypoallergenic?
Cat allergy is caused mainly by the Fel d 1 protein, found in saliva and skin glands; it is behind the allergy in 90% of people who are allergic to cats. Kittens, females and neutered males produce less of it, but still enough to trigger symptoms. No breed is completely hypoallergenic.
Other care
- A check-up at the vet once a year.
- Vaccinations and parasite treatment on the schedule set by the vet.
- Trim the claws if they do not wear down on their own.
- Clean its teeth or give it food that helps keep them clean.
Diet and nutrition
The cat is a carnivore: it needs animal protein. Unlike a dog, it must get vitamin A, arachidonic acid and taurine from its food. Water is very important, because cats usually drink little; several water bowls around the house encourage it to drink.
Tips for a healthy diet
The table gives a starting estimate, calculated with the formula from the Merck Veterinary Manual for a healthy adult cat. The last column shows what this means in dry food with 3,500–4,000 kcal per kilogram. If you also feed wet food, reduce the dry portion.
| Cat's weight | Calories per day (neutered) | Calories per day (not neutered) | Dry food per day (approximate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 kg | 170 kcal | 190 kcal | 42–54 g |
| 3 kg | 190 kcal | 220 kcal | 48–63 g |
| 4 kg | 240 kcal | 280 kcal | 60–80 g |
| 5 kg | 280 kcal | 330 kcal | 70–94 g |
- Adjust the portion to its weight: neutered cats put on weight easily.
- Weigh it monthly; the ribs should be easy to feel under your fingers.
- Kittens need more calories: Merck recommends 2.5 times the resting energy requirement.
Dangerous foods and substances
Some common household items are dangerous for cats:
- Lilies (and daylilies): they can destroy a cat's kidneys. Even the pollen or the water in the vase is dangerous.
- Paracetamol: extremely toxic to cats, which lack the enzyme that breaks it down. Never give it human medicines.
- Flea spot-ons and collars for dogs containing permethrin: the concentration meant for dogs is dangerous for cats.
- Foods: chocolate, coffee, alcohol, onions, garlic, grapes and raisins.
Reproduction and development
Maturity
Females usually reach sexual maturity at 5–10 months, and males at 5–7 months. The age varies from breed to breed.
Mating and pregnancy
Pregnancy in cats lasts 64–67 days, 65 on average. A first litter usually has fewer kittens than later ones. Only healthy cats that match the breed standard are used for breeding.
Blood type
Cats have blood type A, B or AB. Type A is the most common: in a study from England, 87.1% of non-pedigree cats and 54.6% of pedigree cats had type A. This matters for breeding: if the mother is type B and the kittens are type A, the antibodies in her first milk (colostrum) can destroy their red blood cells. The condition is called neonatal isoerythrolysis. That is why breeders test the blood type of both parents.
We found no published data on how common type B is in this breed; the test is done before mating anyway.
Caring for the kittens
Kittens are weaned at 6–7 weeks. They are ready to go to their new home at about 12 weeks, when they can be separated from their mother.
Neutering
Neutering used to be done at 6–9 months, but it is more and more often done before puberty, at around 3–6 months. It prevents unwanted kittens, urine marking in males and the loud “calling” of females in heat. A 2024 study found that neutered cats live one year longer on average. After the operation, the metabolism slows down and appetite increases, so the portion has to be reduced.
How to choose a kitten
- Ask for the pedigree from a recognised cat association (for example, a FIFe member).
- The kitten leaves its mother at about 12 weeks.
- For white kittens, especially blue-eyed ones, ask for the hearing test.
- Look at the mother and at the place where the kittens are raised: it should be clean, with kittens used to people.
- Ask about vaccinations, parasite treatment and the blood type of the parents.
Interesting facts
- The cat from Ankara. The Turkish name, Ankara kedisi, means “the cat from Ankara”.
- Two-coloured eyes. The Ankara zoo especially prized white cats with odd-coloured eyes.
- Confused with the Persian. In 1788, “Persian cat” and “Angora cat” were used as names for the same breed.
- Tail up. It often carries its plume-like tail raised, perpendicular to its back.
In popular culture
The Ankara Zoo programme
In Turkey, the Atatürk Forest Farm and Zoo in Ankara started a breeding programme to protect white Angoras, especially odd-eyed ones.
Frequently asked questions
Are all Turkish Angoras white?
No. White is the best known, but many colours are accepted.
Are the white cats deaf?
Some are: the gene that gives the white coat and blue eyes can cause deafness.
Is the coat hard to look after?
No; it has no undercoat and tangles little.
How long does it live?
French Wikipedia says over 15 years.
