Turkish Angora Cat Breed… Everything You Need to Know at a Glance!

You’ve got to figure that any animal with the word “angora” in it will be a pretty good-looking animal. And he is probably going to have a soft coat of hair, and in the case of the Turkish Angora, you would be right! But these cats are much more than just a pretty face with a fantastic coat of hair; they also have a ton of energy, making owning one a ton of fun.

If of course…

You’re into cats that like to run and play, so we wanted to write an article about the Turkish Angora. You see, in this article, we want to take a moment and discuss what it might be like to own one of these incredible cats so that if you ever get an opportunity to get your hands on one, you won’t be disappointed that you did six months later. So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.

Turkish Angora Cat Breed Fast Facts

Country of Origin:  Turkey

Size:  Medium

Weight:  8 to 10 pounds

Eyes:  Almond shape

Shape of Head:  Wedge-shaped

Lifespan:  12 to 18 years

Origin of the Turkish Angora

How the Turkish Angora first came to be is a bit of a mystery, but it is primarily believed that it is a direct relative of wildcats that lived and existed in Africa 1000s of years ago. It is known that they were first “discovered” by the “West” in the early 1400s around the area previously known as Angora, Turkey. During this time, folks understood a “market” for aristocratic-looking cats throughout Europe, and the Turkish Angora definitely “fit the bill.”

In fact…

During this time throughout Europe, the Turkish Angora and the Persian cat breed experienced widespread popularity as the period known as the Renaissance spread throughout Western Europe. This remained the case until the Persian cat breed gradually began to “edge” out the Turkish Angora in popularity and numbers to the point that the Turkish Angora was no longer as numerous as it had once been.

This did not change the fact that the Turkish Angora remained quite popular in its homeland, which remains the same today. The Turkish Angora can also thank the Turkish government and the Ankara Zoo, who, back in 1940, worked together to help protect and promote the breed within Turkey and ensure that the species would survive into the 21^st century.

In 1962…

The Turkish Angora finally “officially” made it to the United States and became registered under the Cat Fancier’s Association in 1968, and then fully recognized as white Turkish Angoras in 1972. Colored Turkish Angoras were recognized in 1978. The International Cat Association also recognizes them.

Physical Characteristics

Turkish Angora cats have long-haired and silky coats that make them look like elegant cats. Their coats are traditionally white but can also be in other solid colors and tabby, tortoiseshell, calico, and more patterns. Turkish Angora eyes are almond-shaped and can be blue, green, amber, yellow, or have two eye colors. Their ears are large and pointed. They have long, muscular legs, and their back legs are longer than their front legs.

Personality and Temperament

One thing that you’ll learn about these cats right away is that they are very athletic. They love to roam around the house looking for shelves to climb and doors to open. Plus, they’re attention seekers, so they’re always looking for a new way to have your attention. This means they may get into a bit of trouble occasionally. It’s because they love you so much!

They’re also…

They are very assertive cats. They’ll get your attention, but deep down, they probably think it’s for your sake, not theirs. They believe they’re in charge and will most likely be around you all day and try to help in any way they can. We should also warn you that they’re not shy. They will make a friend out of anyone they meet, so don’t get jealous. This friendliness also applies to other animals, so if you have another pet, that’s great! If you don’t, you may want to consider adopting a pair of Angoras. This way, it won’t be up to you to keep them entertained 24/7.

Because…

These guys can get bored quickly unless they’re in the company of someone who will give them attention. And they form habits very fast. So, if you teach them to do one thing, a thing that isn’t very good, then they’re most likely to repeat that action over and over again. It’s hard to change the minds of Turkish Angoras, so make sure you’re not a bad influence on them.

Turkish Angoras have many sides, but one thing will always remain true. They will love you unconditionally. They’ll lay by you as you nap, sit on your lap, and watch Netflix.

Potential Health Concerns

The Turkish Angora cat is a relatively healthy cat breed, except that “white” Turkish Angora with blue eyes will experience a much higher risk of being born deaf. While deaf cats can generally “cope” well with their condition, this is something that you’ll want to consider when choosing which Turkish Angora cat breeder you want to work with and “which” Turkish Angora kitten you wish to adopt.

Which brings us…

The last topic we wanted to discuss today is purchasing a pet insurance policy for your new cat. While it is true that owning a “deaf” cat isn’t going to be any more or any less expensive than owning a “normal” cat, there are plenty of things that could cause your new kitten to have to go to visit your local veterinarian. As any experienced pet owner can tell you, seeing the veterinarian can get expensive, mainly to treat a “serious” or “recurring” problem.

This is why…

We here at IndulgeYourPet always advise any new pet owner to take a moment and see what it might cost to purchase a pet insurance policy for their new loved one. If they ever become sick or injured in the future, you won’t be on the “hook” for 100% of the cost of treatment.

For more information on who we “feel” currently offers some of the “best” pet insurance policies on the market, check out our Best Pet Insurance Companies article.