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A brief historical overview
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"The destiny of the Turkish Angora is fascinating because it bears witness to history in general and the history of the pedigree cat in particular" (extract from the LOOF website).
This cat has been known in the East for over 2,000 years. The Turkish Angora was already described by the Romans, with Augustus Octavian, Rome's first emperor, describing his white cat with golden eyes as "delicate and refined, noble and independent-minded". White Turkish Angoras were notably owned by wealthy merchants who saw them as a symbol of purity, finesse and wealth. He was the first long-haired cat to arrive in Europe. The cat's name comes from the former name of Turkey's capital, now called Ankara. It gave its name to all "angora" animals, i.e. those with semi-long hair (e.g. the angora rabbit).
In the 17th century (around 1620), the Italian explorer Pietro Della Valle, intrigued by this breed, was the first to describe them. The French naturalist Fabri then brought back a few specimens from Turkey, becoming the first breeder of the breed in Europe. Contrary to what one might think, this cat was not only from Turkey: in fact, at the time, some also came from Syria and Iran. As early as 1756, the cat was the subject of a scientific description, notably by the naturalist Buffon in his Histoire naturelle: "Le chat d'angora tout blanc et à longs poils".
From then on, the cat was highly prized by the entire European aristocracy, particularly at the French court. Richelieu owned fourteen of them, and the kings from Louis XIII to Louis XVI also owned them, as they represented a luxury item. Marie-Antoinette owned several and sent them to America before being arrested. This is how the breed arrived in the New World, and how it gave birth to the maine coon.
Linné, to distinguish it from the domestic cat and the Carthusian, gave it the name Cattus angorensis. Great painters such as Bachelier and Courbet have depicted it in their studio.
The cat was also very popular in England. In the 19th century, in association with the British, it gave birth to the Persian, to which it transmitted the gene responsible for long hair. Unfortunately, it fell victim to the latter's great success. It almost became extinct, and was even on the brink of extinction after the Second World War. The Turks, worried about the breed's disappearance, decided to protect it, and specimens were housed at Ankara Zoo.
In the mid-20th century, breeders in Europe and the United States decided to import Turkish Angoras from Turkey, where the breed is now protected. Among these imported cats, the ancestors of our Turkish Angoras, are the Yildiz and Yildizcik cats from Ankara Zoo.
The breed really took off in the 1970s. The Cat Fancier Association (CFA) registered the first cats in 1970 and recognized the breed in 1973, as did the Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFé) in 1988.
However, the breed is still relatively rare and little-known today, and faces stiff competition from the more recent long- and semi-longhair breeds from which it originated: Norwegian, Siberian, Maine Coon and Persian. It is still protected at Ankara Zoo, where specimens can still be seen being exported to enrich catteries around the world.
It should be noted that the Turkish Angora is not a man-made breed, even if man has intervened to improve its characteristics: it is a natural breed. |
General appearance
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| This cat is characterized by its silky, semi-long-haired coat with no undercoat, and a fine, slender silhouette that places it in the category of foreign cats like the Abyssin or Russian Blue. An ancient breed of cat, the Turkish Angora is at the origin of all the long-haired (Persian) and semi-long-haired (Norwegian, Maine Coon, etc.) breeds found in Europe and America. |
Behavior / characteristics
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Turkish Angora cats are affectionate, curious, lively and intelligent. It remains playful throughout its life and is appreciated by children and people looking for the company of an affectionate cat. Sporty, they are excellent hunters who are eager to be solicited. It likes to hide in the smallest nooks and crannies of the house or apartment, perch on high furniture to observe household activities, or sit on its master's shoulders. He'll happily settle down in front of the computer screen to observe what his master is doing, stare straight into his master's eyes to get his attention, or perch to watch you shower.
Very affectionate and close to people, they can't stand to be alone, and need to participate in the life of the house by being at their master's side. Talkative by nature, he has a wide range of meows to express his different moods and attract his owners' attention. His meow is soft and expressive. However, these traits are perfectly individual and depend on the history of each cat.
They need to be handled gently, as they are lively and strong-tempered, and hate to be forced. However, intelligent and willing to please their master, they are quick learners and easy to train, and are used in circuses for feats of skill. They adapt very well to their fellow cats and to other animals with whom they enjoy playing. He's a very well-balanced cat who loves to share the life of a family with children and various activities. That's why some people call it the cat/dog.
The Turkish Angora's sexual development is quite early, with sexual maturity reached at around 8 to 10 months. This very playful kitten will remain so for the rest of its life. The cat's behavior will also depend on the way it has been raised from an early age, and the relationship it has had with its mother and with humans. It is not advisable to separate a kitten from its mother before the age of 3 months, for the cat's future balance. |
Health
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| A breed not created by man, the Turkish Angora is robust and has no particular health problems. Its life expectancy is over 15 years. In terms of maintenance, this cat poses no particular problems, as it has no undercoat and, unlike other semi-long-haired breeds, doesn't get into tangles. Brushing once a week in winter and once a fortnight in summer is sufficient. During moulting, you can prevent the cat from ingesting too much hair by licking, by brushing more frequently. |
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In adult males, a broader head and wider-set ears are tolerated.
English (United Kingdom)