Cat breed · Turkey
The Turkish Angora (Turkish: Ankara kedisi, 'Ankara cat') is a breed of domestic cat. Turkish Angoras are one of the ancient, natural breeds of cat, having originated in central Anatolia (Ankara Province in modern-day Turkey). The breed has been documented as early as the 17th century. Outside the United States, the breed is usually referred to as simply the Angora or Ankara cat. These cats have slender and elegant bodies.
Behaviour: Turkish Angoras are playful, intelligent, athletic and involved. They bond with humans, but often select a particular member of a family to be their constant companion, whom they are very protective of.
Appearance: The Angora has a silky coat that covers a long muscular body. Though it is known for a shimmery white coat and posh tail, Turkish Angoras can display a variety of coat colours, with the only disallowed coats being chocolate, lavender, or colourpoint. The Angora's head is small to medium in size with a smooth wedge. The body is long and slender, with good fineness of the bone.
Eyes are large and almond shaped. The colour may be blue, green, amber, yellow, as well as heterochromatic. Ears are pointed, large and wide-set. The eyes are almond shaped, and the profile forms two straight planes. The plumed tail is often carried upright, perpendicular to the back.
Health: The gene responsible for blue eyes and white coat in the Angora can cause deafness.
There have been reports of kittens suffering from ataxia as well as adult cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
History: Like all domestic cats, Turkish Angoras descended from the African wildcat (Felis lybica). Their ancestors were among the cats that were first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent.
Longhaired cats were imported to Britain and France from Asia Minor, Persia and Russia as early as the late 16th century. The Turkish Angora was recognised as a distinct breed in Europe by the 17th century. However, there is a strong connection between Angoras and Persians. Charles Catton, in the 1788 book Animals Drawn from Nature and Engraved in Aqua-tinta, gave "Persian cat" and "Angora cat" as alternative names for the same breed.
There is a lot of similarity between Angora and Persian cat. Angora by British and American . In 1903, Frances Simpson wrote in The Book of the Cat:
