Turkish Angora

Coat and looks how to spot one

semi-long, single, silky coat with no real undercoat

A fine-boned but surprisingly firm and muscular cat with a long body and long legs, the hind legs a little higher than the front. The coat is a single layer of very fine hair with a silky shine: medium length on the body, but longer and fuller on the neck ruff, the 'britches' on the hind legs and the plumed tail, which is often held high. The head is a smallish wedge with big, high-set pointed ears and large almond eyes that can be blue, green, amber, yellow or one of each.42135

Personality what they are like

An outgoing, busy and very involved cat that wants to be part of whatever its people are doing. Many greet visitors at the door, follow their owners from room to room and quickly learn games, tricks and even simple commands. They often attach most strongly to one person in the household, while usually fitting in well with children and other pets. Bright and quick, they have a playful, slightly comic side, and some enjoy dabbling in water. They tend to prefer a settled routine and a predictable home.43215

Daily activity how busy a day looks

High. A lively, athletic breed that loves to run, climb and perch up high, keeps a kitten-like love of play and does well at fetch, trick training and feline agility. Tall cat trees, shelves and a rotating selection of toys suit it well.3542

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Because the single coat resists matting, grooming is light for a longhair: a weekly comb (CFA suggests two or three times a month for young cats) removes loose hair, with more frequent sessions as cats get older or during seasonal shedding. Many tolerate bathing well. Routine nail trims, eye wiping and tooth care complete the routine.435

Home where they are happiest

An indoor home with plenty of vertical space, such as cat trees and perches, and enough toys and interaction to keep an active, curious cat busy. A calm, stable household suits it, as sudden changes to its surroundings can unsettle it.54

Food basics what goes in the bowl

A complete, balanced cat food in measured portions. Hill's advises keeping this fine-boned breed lean rather than letting it put on extra weight.5

Company who they like around

Very sociable with its people and likes company and interaction most of the day. It usually gets along with children and other animals, and often picks one family member as its closest companion.2143

The story where it all began

The Turkish Angora is a natural breed from central Anatolia, named after Ankara, and descends like all domestic cats from the African wildcat. Longhaired cats were being brought into Britain and France from Asia Minor, Persia and Russia by the late 1500s, and the Angora became a recognised type in Europe during the 1600s, where it was popular with French aristocrats. For a long time Europeans mixed up Angoras and Persians (a 1788 book treated the names as alternatives), and in the early 1900s Angoras were crossed into Persian lines to improve their coats, until the Angora nearly vanished as a separate type. Turkey kept the breed going through a preservation programme at the Ankara Zoo (Atatürk Forest Farm and Zoo), which focused on pure white cats and especially valued odd-eyed ones. American visitors noticed the zoo's cats in the 1950s, and imports to North America in the early 1960s (Canada in 1963, the USA from 1962 per TICA, with CFA noting an arrival in 1954) started the modern breeding programme. CFA granted championship status in 1973 for whites only and opened the breed to colours in 1978; FIFe recognised it in 1988. Genetic work from 2012 found that cats of Turkish origin and North American lines now form distinct populations.14325

Recognised by the official bits

CFA

Championship breed since 1973; only whites were accepted at first, with other colours added in 19781

CFA

Current standard accepts almost every colour except chocolate, lilac and pointed patterns4

FIFe

Fully recognised, Category 2, code TUA; recognised since 1988 (standard updated 2024)2

TICA

Recognised breed with a published standard and breed committee3

ACFA / CCA-AFC

Both maintain a breed standard1