How to Identify A Turkish Angora
The Turkish Angora is a very old breed which originated in the Ankara province of Turkey. This cat is more closely related to the wild ancestor of all domestic cats, the African Wildcat., than most. This is a result of its relatively short journey through the world. Wildcats were brought into Egypt and from there were seeded throughout much of the world along trading routes. Turkey was very well developed by this time and held many mercantile opportunities, hence the arrival of these cats. The difficult terrain around the Ankara region kept the cats brought into Turkey from migrating or wandering elsewhere. This concentrated the genetic traits of the cats through many generations, resulting in the Turkish Angora. This species of cat was named a national treasure in Turkey in the early 1900s and was brought to America in 1963, becoming an accepted breed of show cat shortly afterward. Because of this breed's rarity in America and Western Europe here is a guide on how to correctly identify a Turkish Angora.
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Instructions
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How To Identify A Turkish Angora
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Begin by looking at the cat’s general shape and size. The cat should be elegant, fine boned, and lithe. The cat’s lines should be slightly angular and taper down the legs and neck. This is a small species and the males rarely weigh more than ten pounds, the females eight. One thing to pay particular attention to is the tail. It should be long; almost as long as the cat. And be covered in lush, feathery fur much longer and fluffier than the rest of the body.
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Pay attention to the cat’s fur. This is a semi-long haired species with particularly long fur on the tail. Turkish Angora’s are commonly known for having fluffy snow-white fur, but they can appear in almost twenty different colors and patterns. This means their fur color is not an indicator of the species. For a long or semi-long haired species they are one of only a few that does not have a second shorter undercoat of fur. If the cat doesn’t have an undercoat then it’s definitely of Turkish ancestry, though not necessarily an Angora.
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Examine the cat’s head. The skull should be significantly larger than one would expect of a cat so small. The neck is very slender, though this is disguised by the fluffy fur covering it. The muzzle should be flat and blunt, despite the angular inward taper of its cheeks. The ears should be placed low on the sides of the head, but their tips should curve around to point straight upward. A Turkish Angora can also possess green, amber or blue eyes. Some cats of this breed will have one blue eye and one green or amber eye. This is due to a genetic abnormality that can occur in white cats. If that cat matches this description then you’re looking at a Turkish Angora
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Tips & Warnings
This is a very curious and intelligent breed of cat and can easily learn to recognize basic commands after a few repetitions. You will find this species is not at all shy and will try to be the center of attention if at all possible. Turkish Angoras are very social and form a very close one-on-one bond with their owners, for that reason this cat should not be kept in a home or household that cannot provide it with the daily contact and interaction it needs to be happy and healthy.
This species is too energetic to be a lap cat, though it is by no means hyperactive. They enjoy the affection of their masters but don't like being picked up or held.
Resources
- Photo Credit www.breeds.traditionalcats.com
