Presentation of the Turkish Angora

History:
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 middleage. It says that the Turkish Angora is the platform for the semilonghair 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 belive for instance that the landfather 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 inmodern and was concurred out by the new modern longhaired cats. In the middle of 1950 some animalparks in Turkey began to save the outdying breed. They have breed on the breed just so it wouldn’t die out. 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 nowadays a very popular breed. Most of the colours is represented in the US but the white cat is still the most popular.

It has been breed on the Turkish Angora in Europe for almost as long time as in the US, but until 1993 only the white angora was recognised in FIFe. As good as all colours was recognised at the FIFe General Assembly in 1993. The first Turkish Angora came to Sweden in 1996, imported from the Netherlands. The first Turkish Angora litter was born the same year.

Standard:
The Turkish Angora should be solid but at the same time give a graceful impression with flowing motions. The female is medium in size and the male slightly bigger. The body is long with the hind part slightly higher than the front. The bonestructure is fine. The coat is silky, semi longhair with a tendency to curl. They have long coat at the collar and a bushy, long tail. The head is wide at the top with a smooth taper to the chin. The ears are wide at the base, pointed, tufted and erect. The eyes are slightly slanting upward and are almond shaped. The eye colour is amber, odd-eyed or blue.

Temperament:
The Turkish Angora is very similar to the Turkish Van in its temper. 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.

Text from: Vangoran

Translation: Lotta Anderälv