Turkish Angora - breed description and cat character

Turkish Angora is one of the oldest breeds, which has been known for several centuries. It is easy to recognize feline representatives by their snow-white coat and amazing grace. The main highlight is their character.

These are the descendants of cats that lived in Turkey in ancient times. The owners of these animals at that time were only wealthy people, including monarchs. In the Middle Ages, cats of this breed became very popular throughout Europe. Such a cat was an expensive present for the rich. For various reasons, the representatives of this breed were almost completely extinct. The Turkish authorities, in order to save the animals, have developed a special program for their breeding.

Fact! Turkish Angora appeared in Russia during the Russo-Turkish war.

History

These cats have fluffy white hair, a fluffy tail. Their eyes are blue, but it often happens that the animal's eyes differ in color from each other. According to legend, the prophet Muhammad himself, according to the description of appearance, had a cat of this breed, which had eyes of different colors. Therefore, they are not expelled from mosques.

In the 19th century in Europe, the breed gained special popularity, since in those years they were almost the only long-haired cats. When these representatives became less and less, the breeders tried to breed their cat breed, which would look like Turkish Angora. They wanted to achieve this by crossing Persian and Oriental cats. As a result of this crossing, animals were obtained that did not look very different from the original. Their skeleton was a little more powerful, and the hair was more fluffy.

In recent years, experiments by breeders have led to the emergence of representatives of the breed not only white, but also in other colors. As a result, doubts about the quality of the animals often arise. White color is a visiting card of Turkish Angora. If the animal is not white, then it can be confused with a Siberian cat and other breeds. For this reason, in our time it is advisable not to breed Turkish Angora of different colors in order to maintain their original color. This is very important for breeders, as white kittens will cost a lot more.

In European countries, one often encounters an attempt to cheat. Outbred kittens are sold as purebred. This leads to a decrease in demand for this breed. The person who bought a thoroughbred kitten instead of the original representative of the Turkish Angora creates the wrong impression of the breed. Therefore, these cats are becoming less.

Perhaps one of the reasons for the decrease in the number of these cats can be considered marketing. Now the market offers British Shorthair, as well as Siamese and Persian cats. Perhaps in order to revive their popularity, you just need to better inform people, and use advertising for this.

Appearance

Turkish Angora have a proportional body. These cats are very elegant and graceful, their hair is very soft. Here are the main standards:

1. Their body is medium in size. The slender body has developed muscles.
2. The legs are long and rather slender. Rounded paws are small in size.
3. Turkish Angora have a long tail that tapers toward the tip.
4. Their head is small, and their cheeks are slightly convex.
5. The muzzle is slightly elongated, and the chin is powerful.
6. Large ears with sharp tips are located close to each other. They are set high.
7. The nose of these cats is medium length.
8. Representatives of this breed have a rather long and thin neck.
9. The hairs are thin, soft, have an average length. Longer hair covers the tail, neck and chest of the animal.
10. Their eyes are large, have an almond-shaped shape. They have a saturated color - blue, amber or green.

Character

Turkish Angora are very active, spend a lot of time in motion. Their character is mild. Most often, if the animal lives in a large family, it will become attached to one person. Angora owners say that when you become acquainted with this breed, you will not exchange it for another. For a long time they do not sit in their arms; they like to run more.

Games are their favorite pastime. The best toy for them is a mouse, real or artificial. Having caught the mouse, they will throw them up, throw themselves at it and hide it. Having played, these cats can disturb the order in the house. If you do not tolerate this, then it is better to choose an animal of a different breed. It is unlikely that you will be able to re-educate the Angora.

Representatives of this breed are distinguished by intelligence, determination, ingenuity. To achieve the goal, they can go for various tricks. If you hid the thing that interested her from her, the animal will certainly try to get it. The cat will look for ways to get a toy, and if it doesn’t work out, it will start to beg.

Turkish Angora will suit people who have a sensitive nature, who will love and take good care of the animal. They do not tolerate rough treatment, loud screams, physical punishments. These cats are smart, their nerves are very strong, but their character is vulnerable. Basically, the representatives of the breed are very friendly, they love the company of people. They are attached to the owner, participate in all household chores. If you want to get a cat for decorative purposes, then Turkish Angora will not suit you. These sensitive animals are very fond of affection and attention.

With a lot of activity, they do not create too much noise. Playful character and curiosity are combined with elegance and pride. This breed is suitable for families with small children. The cat will be happy to play with the baby. But the baby must be taught a good attitude towards the pet, do not pull its tail and so on.

With other animals, they find a common language is not as easy as with people. Especially they don’t like dogs or those cats that are not easy. Angora can get along with another animal only if they grew up in the same house from childhood. In another case, they see competitors in animals, with whom they must fight for the attention of the owner. If guests come to the house, Angora will be wary, but will show curiosity. After a while, she will come up, demanding attention and affection for her. It is very interesting to watch how these cats play.

Care

This breed is the most unpretentious when compared with other long-haired breeds. They do not have the undercoat, which most often leads to confusion. To take care of the hair, it will be enough to comb them with a comb every week.

It is recommended to bathe them every two months. But, if the animal has white coat, as well as in the case of severe pollution, it is possible more often.

If you want the hair of the animal to look beautiful and well-groomed, you can comb it more often. To do this, there are special sets of scallops and brushes designed to care for animals with long hair. When bathing, it is also advisable to use products intended for long-haired pets. If not used, the coat may turn yellow over time. This will spoil the look of this elegant animal.

Turkish Angora are playful and active, so it is advisable to purchase special equipment where they can play. So the animal will have the opportunity to frolic without spoiling the wallpaper, furniture and other interior items, which will delight the owners.

You can walk Turkish Angora on a leash.

Their health is good. Immunity is well developed. But the necessary vaccinations and treatment against parasites still need to be done. Compared to other cats, Angora can be called true centenarians.If they are properly looked after and properly fed, then the animal can live up to 20 years.

Health

Basically, representatives of the Turkish Angora breed are distinguished by good health. But some of them may suffer from cardiomyopathy. This hereditary disease affects many cats and other breeds. They can also get the ataxia of Turkish Angora. The disease received this name because it occurs only in representatives of this breed. Purebred representatives, in whom the coat has a white color, often suffer from deafness.

They can get sick with other diseases that are characteristic of cats. But, if they are treated in a timely manner, then they do not bear danger to the animal. There is a lot of information on how to cure a cat of lichen, fleas and other parasites.

How to feed a Turkish Angora

These active animals can eat up to four times a day to make up for their energy. So that the animal does not get fat from overeating, you should feed them in small portions.

If it is convenient for you to feed your pet with dry food, then it is best to give preference to high quality products. This feed is premium and super premium. The feed should consist mainly of meat products. Preservatives in it should be a minimum quantity. If you prefer to feed animals with natural food, then meat with a small amount of fat is suitable for angora. This is chicken, offal. You can also add turkey or rabbit meat, beef to the diet. In addition to meat, the cat should eat cereals from cereals, vegetables, dairy products. Be sure to include fish in the diet.

Even with good nutrition, the animal is recommended to give vitamins to replenish the supply of essential nutrients.

Breeding

Breeders recommend planning a mating when the animal turns about one and a half years old. The breed is quite popular in the CIS countries, so it will not be difficult to find a pair for the animal. A cat’s pregnancy lasts about two months. Representatives of this breed usually tolerate pregnancy and childbirth. She does not need the help of the owner. If he is present, it will still help the cat live more relaxed.

Turkish Angors are good mothers who not only look after the offspring, but also bring them up. Basically, these animals are white in color, since this trait is the main distinguishing feature of the breed. But recently, more and more Angora cats of black, blue, chocolate and many other colors can be found.

How much is a kitten

The price of a purebred representative in Russia ranges from 5 to 25 thousand rubles. In Ukraine, such a kitten can be purchased from 500 UAH., But the price, depending on the characteristics, can grow 10 times. In order not to take risks, it is better to buy a pet in the nursery. Otherwise, you can stumble upon a hoax. Very many give out purebred animals as purebred Angora cats.

Currently, this breed is not in great demand among cat lovers. But this does not mean that they are not worthy of attention. The advantages of these cats are no less than those of others. Most likely, popularity has declined due to the fact that more and more other interesting and original breeds come into fashion. Of longhair people increasingly prefer Persian or Siberian cats.

Video: Turkish Angora