The Turkish Angora

Pictured: Third Best of Breed GC, RW TAMERAL PIZZAZZ OF FENG SHUI, Blue-Eyed White Turkish Angora Female.

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Feng Shui Cattery
About the Breeds

ELEGANT, ETHEREAL, REGAL, STATUESQUE,
STRONG, SWEET and OPINIONATED are the words
perhaps most descriptive of this ancient and
oftentimes controversial breed.

The Turkish Angora is a very old breed, probably the
oldest in the world. It can be traced farther back in
history than any other breed, way back to the time
before the middle age.

It says that the Turkish Angora is the platform for
the semi-longhair breeds. It's probably also the
platform for the Persian breed as well, even if that
breed developed in another direction.  

In Turkey, the angora is related with some myths and
legends. They believe for instance that the fore-father
of Turkey, Kemal Atatürk, one day will rise again in
the shape of a white, odd-eyed, deaf angora male.


At the 16th century the angora was sent to rich people
in France and England by Turkish sultans. But in
the end of the 19th century these cats became in
modern and was concurred out by the new modern
longhaired cats. In the middle of 1950 some animal
parks in Turkey began to save the dying breed.  

In 1960, an American couple bought a couple of
Turkish Angoras from Ankara Zoo and they brought
back the breed in to the US where it's now a very
popular breed. Most of the colors are represented in the
US but the white cat is still the most popular.


Many people have used the term Angora to signify
any longhaired cat. However, the only pedigreed cats
that carry the name "Angora" are the Turkish Angora.
In the early part of this century, the Angora was used
indiscriminately in breedings with Persians, finally
disappearing from the scene as it became incorporated
with that breed, known for a time simply as
‘Longhairs.'

The Turkish Angora is a pure, natural breed of cat,
originating probably from the Manul cat
domesticated by the Tartars. They migrated
eventually to Turkey, where they are regarded today
with great reverence, as one of their national
treasures. In 1962, the Angora was rediscovered by
American servicemen in the Ankara Zoo in Ankara,
Turkey, in a controlled breeding program dating back
forty-five years. CFA only accepts for registration
those Turkish Angoras whose ancestry can be traced
back to Turkey


Turkish Angoras make wonderful pets. They are
among the most intelligent of the cat breeds. They
love their owners with a single minded devotion. They
are long, elegant, finely boned creatures with
smoothly pointed faces, who adore running and
playing with wonderful grace and a great zest for
living. Their single, silky, medium length coats need
only occasional grooming to look good. The Turkish
Angora is now generally available in a full range of
colors, having been accepted by CFA in any shade and
pattern, except those that denote hybridization such
as lavender, chocolate or the pointed pattern. They
occur commonly, in most solids, tabbies, smokes and
parti-colors. White is still the most popular color,
though this is rapidly changing, as more and more
breeders realize the beauty of this elegant breed in a
variety of exciting shades.


The Turkish Angora is a beautiful and graceful cat
with elegant motions. It's intelligent, alert, easy to
learn but has its own will at the same time.

  CLick Here for the CFA Breed Standard