Turkish Angora

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Lore & Background

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. In 1903, Frances Simpson wrote in The Book of the Cat: 'In classing all long-haired cats as Persians I may be wrong, but the distinctions, apparently with hardly any difference, between Angoras and Persians are of so fine a nature that I must be pardoned if I ignore the class of cat commonly called Angora, which seems gradually to have disappeared from our midst.' The Angora of the 20th century was used for improvement in the Persian coat, but the type has always been divergent from the Persian—particularly as the increasingly flat-faced show cat Persian has been developed in the last few decades.

Reader's Guide

In the early 20th century, Atatürk Forest Farm and Zoo began a breeding program to protect and preserve pure white Angoras. The zoo particularly prized odd-eyed specimens; however, the cats were chosen only for their colour – no other criterion was applied. The Turkish Angora, which was brought to Canada in 1963, was accepted as a championship pedigreed breed in 1973 by the Cat Fanciers' Association. However, until 1978 only white Angoras were recognised. Today, all North American registries accept the Turkish Angora in many colours and patterns. While their numbers are still relatively small, the gene pool is continually growing. 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. 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. 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. Breeders in Turkey feel that the cat's fine-boned version of its natural breed is unrepresentative of the true Turkish cats, which are much sturdier. American 'Turkish' Angoras have only a minimal remnant of the original Atatürk Forest Farm and Zoo DNA, and are only 'purebred on paper'. A genetic study of pedigree cat breeds (using DNA taken from pedigreed cats in the U.S. and Europe) and worldwide random-bred populations showed the Turkish Van as a distinct population from the Turkish Angora despite their geographical association. The Turkish Angora was grouped with the pedigreed Egyptian Mau and random-bred Tunisian cats. Turkish random-bred cats were grouped with Israeli random-bred cats, while the Turkish Van was grouped with Egyptian random-bred cats. However, the UC Davis studied only American cat fancy registered Angoras rather than the 'true' Turkish Angora or Ankara Kedisi directly from Turkey, and especially from the Ankara Zoo. A genetic study published in 2012 included a few cats imported from Turkey. The study found that 'Turkish-versus USA-originating Turkish Angoras ... are resolved as separate breed populations.' The American Turkish Angoras are categorised as descendants of European random-bred cats, and cats imported from Turkey 'were assigned to the Eastern Mediterranean' group.

Did You Know?

• The Turkish Angora is documented as early as the 17th century, making it one of the ancient, natural breeds of cat.
• In 1788, Charles Catton gave 'Persian cat' and 'Angora cat' as alternative names for the same breed.
• Atatürk Forest Farm and Zoo began a breeding program in the early 20th century to protect pure white Angoras, particularly prizing odd-eyed specimens.
• The Turkish Angora was brought to Canada in 1963 and accepted as a championship pedigreed breed by the Cat Fanciers' Association in 1973, though only white Angoras were recognized until 1978.
• A 2012 genetic study found that Turkish-versus USA-originating Turkish Angoras are resolved as separate breed populations.

Common Misconceptions (Editorial)

A common misconception is that the Turkish Angora and the Persian cat are entirely separate, unrelated breeds. However, Charles Catton’s 1788 book listed “Persian cat” and “Angora cat” as alternative names for the same breed, and Frances Simpson wrote in 1903 that distinctions between them were so fine that she ignored the class of cat called Angora. Another misconception is that only white Turkish Angoras exist; the facts show that the breed comes in various colors, though white was historically prized.

Why It Matters (Editorial)

The Turkish Angora endures as a living link to the earliest days of cat domestication and the cultural history of Anatolia. Its documented presence since the 17th century and its role in the development of the Persian breed highlight how human preferences and breeding standards have shaped—and sometimes confused—our understanding of natural cat breeds. Protecting the breed’s genetic heritage, as seen in the Turkish breeding program for odd-eyed white Angoras, matters for preserving both biodiversity and a tangible connection to our shared past with domesticated animals.