Meet the Breeds - the Turkish Angora

Of course the second installment in this series about cat breeds is my favorite cat, and the one I choose to work with, the Turkish Angora.  Although it is little known in the United States, it is one of the oldest cat breeds, as well as the suspected genetic source of a lot of things we love in cats today, including the solid white color and long hair.

This wonderful cat has been documented since the 16th century, and is one of just a handful of what we call natural breeds, or breeds that have been maintained and kept to their original form through time.  The Turkish Angora cannot be bred to any other cat and still be registered as a TA; all CFA registered Turkish Angoras must trace their pedigree back to a cat from Turkey.

Although it does come in other colors, including other solid colors, tabbies and bi-colors (a cat with color on one part, white on the rest of the cat), the hallmark color of the breed is white. Stories abound regarding the history and reverence of this breed.  Depending on how you hear the tale, legend says the prophet Muhammad owned an odd eyed Turkish Angora (another unique hallmark of the breed, with one blue eye and one amber or green eye), and one day he had his aides cut the sleeve off his robe where his cat was sleeping, as he wished to rise without disturbing the cat. 

At the turn of the last century, the Turkish Angora was very much en vogue in France and the UK; they were used in Persian breeding programs to improve their coat quality, as the TA has a fine, silky and uniquely soft coat. This kind of careless outcrossing resulted in near extinction for the TA. In order to save the breed, the Turkish government established a breeding colony at the Ankara Zoo. They also classified the breed as a national treasure in Turkey, giving it special protection. In the 1960s, a military man and his wife imported the first breeding pair to the US, named Yildiz and Yildizcek, and started a successful campaign for recognition of the breed in CFA.

These cats are an absolute delight. They are the perfect choice for someone who wants the opposite of every stereotype you've heard about cats. They tend to attach to one person, but love human companionship. However, it's not a cat that needs to be in a home as a kitten to bond to the owners - they will bond with humans no matter their age. One of my first TAs was several years old when I got him - and from the moment I saw him it was clear he was MY cat (and he is to this day, and he will turn 12 this month). They live long, healthy lives, making them a wonderful long-term companion for your family.

They don't just want to be with you or near you as you do your daily chores - they want to *help* you, sometimes to a bothersome extent.  This breed is known to ride on shoulders and is considered a "high" cat - they love to perch and get to see the most area they can.  It's sometimes said that if you can't find your Turkish Angora, look up. They're likely on top of your kitchen cabinets, refrigerator, or the top of your door.

Yes, I said on top of your door. These cats are spectacular athletes, who will fit on things you can't imagine (I had taken down curtains, and then found one cat perched on the 2"x1" wall fixture). They leap and bound and get into, well, everything.  They sometimes learn to get into cabinets, and drawers. They are known to go "shopping" in purses and bags. I always advise new owners to place their really important breakables behind glass.  That's not to say they'll break everything - you just have to be ready to use a very firm NO. Yes, they do learn, and are highly trainable, many willing to walk on leads. They make fantastic agility cats, who run courses just like the dogs. If you are looking for a couch potato as a cat, or one that doesn't find mischief, this isn't the cat for you.  

These cats are intelligent beyond belief - I am always reminded of the Velociraptors in Jurassic Park, when the Australian hunter notes they're learning, they're progressively testing the fences for weakness.  This is a Turk to a "T." They push, like children, and they can be compared in intelligence to toddlers. They don't just think in straight lines like most animals.  The old story of they'll jump on the hot burner once and never get on the stove again, doesn't apply - they'll try a different burner, or a different direction, to get on the stove.  It can make things challenging, but hey, don't all great things come with challenges?

Turks are shockingly easy to groom, and perhaps this is one thing that worries prospective owners - a white longhair certainly *looks* like a challenge.  Rest assured - their coat care is very minimal. You can brush and comb them all you want, but once a week to remove dead hair is probably all you'll need. No, I'm not kidding. It really is that easy.

Although the current version of a show quality Turkish Angora is a bit more refined than the "original" model, it is known that to maintain this breed appropriately means at times breeding back to cats from Turkey. This means you might see in a breeder's home a cat with slender, elegant legs and a streamlined body (they're called the ballerina of the cat fancy, they look fragile but they are strong under that fur); you may also see a shorter, stockier and wider cat with smaller ears. They're both Turkish Angoras, with the same personalities, but using them in our programs is a way to bring health, head type and coat to our fine tuned "show" model.

This is a busy cat that is great with children running about and high activity levels. Everything in your house is really a toy to them, so it's often suggested to get a pair, or a slightly older cat, as kittens can really be a handful. This beautiful breed is one that you will not want to be without, once you have one.