Turkish Angora (Angora Cat): Photo, Description Of The Breed, Nature And Content

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-17 22:26

Turkish Angora: languid beauty from the shores of the Bosphorus

Angora cats are considered one of the most ancient breeds, and only monarchs and noble persons could have such fluffy in the past centuries. Today, on the contrary, interest in adorable white creatures is decreasing due to the growing competition with Siberian and Persian cats, which pushes breeders to take risky steps to create new, unusual colors for angora. However, this does not in any way affect the intelligence and benevolence of the ancient purrs, for which pet lovers around the world continue to appreciate them.

Content

• 1 History of the Angora cat

  1.1 Video: Turkish Angora cat

• 2 Appearance of the Turkish Angora

  2.1 Photo gallery: variety of coat colors of the Angora cat

• 3 Habits and character

  3.1 Video: about the breed Turkish Angora

• 4 Turkish Angora health
• 5 How to choose an Angora kitten

• 6 Keeping angora cat

  • 6.1 Hygiene and toilet

    6.1.1 Video: caring for the Turkish Angora

  • 6.2 Nutrition

• 7 Turkish Angora farming

  7.1 Castration and sterilization

• 8 Reviews of Angora cat owners

History of the Angora cat

The snow-white ancestors of the modern Turkish Angora were known back in the days of ancient Byzantium.

The appearance of cats with long white hair in the vastness of Asia Minor is associated with genetic mutations that have occurred as a result of numerous crosses between outbred cats and African cats. According to another version, this effect arose after the infusion of the blood of Caucasian purrs into the gene pool of Turkish street fluffs. One way or another, but by the 16th century, the breed had become the pride of the Istanbul nobility and was already in those days called "ankara" (by analogy with the city where snow-white kittens were first born).

Angora cats have a very ancient origin

In the 17th century, the Italian traveler Pietro de la Valli, who visited Turkey, was struck by the long white wool of the angora, and decided to take some fluffies to Europe. After that, the breed began to be actively spread by the French breeder Nicola Fabri de Perez.

In the Ottoman Empire itself, interest in Angora beauties began to fade, and by the 19th century, the breed had become scarce at all. This course of events was facilitated by the participation of the Angora in the breeding of other long-haired breeds - Turkish Van, Persian cats.

The result of such a careless breeding work was the decision of the Turkish government to protect the Angora cat breed and the creation of a program for its revival: they began to preserve and carefully cultivate the fuzzies, settling them in zoos under the close supervision of felinologists. An extreme measure was a ban on the export of angora outside the country.

Angora cats - a national treasure of Turkey

By the 1960s, white long-haired Turkish cats were known all over the world, and American breeders managed to bring several individuals to the States. This is how the process of recognition of the breed by the world felinological community began. Initially, in 1975, the CFA organization admitted to the fluffy championship, and only white cats could participate in the competition. And the pedigree, according to the standard, the purrs still have to lead from the Turkish coast.

In 1977, CFA recognized any colors other than lavender, chocolate and Himalayan as acceptable colors. But with the recognition by other felinological organizations, the case was somewhat delayed. So, the European Felinological Federation FIFe allowed angora to compete only in 1988, and then completely banned the knitting of white purrs among themselves. This move became almost fatal for the breed, since colored individuals were in much less demand than snow-white ones.

In the Russian open spaces, the Turkish Angora appeared during the Russian-Turkish war, Prince Potemkin brought fluffy beauties to the country.

The next wave of popularity of the Angora cat falls on the 80s of the XX century, then the largest number of Angora catteries appeared in the country. However, since 2000, interest in the breed has gradually faded, due to the widespread prevalence of these furries among the population.

Video: Turkish Angora cat

Appearance of the Turkish Angora

"Snow" cats from the Turkish coast are distinguished by their fragile constitution and graceful gait, which makes these purrs look like ephemeral, unearthly creatures.

Turkish Angora - "Snow Queens" in the world of cats

Such pussies weigh on average 2-3.5 kg (females) and 4.5-6 kg (males), and the height of the muscular body at the withers is about 35 cm.

According to the breed standard, the description of the Angora cat includes the following characteristics:

• the wedge-shaped head is small and medium in size;
• strong jaws stand out against the background of a massive chin;
• narrowed at the tip, straight, long nose has no hump;
• large, far apart ears are pointed at the tips (and sometimes have tassels);
• slightly slanted round eyes can have different colors (as a rule, in this case, one eye is blue, the other is yellow-green);
• thin legs have different lengths (the front ones are shorter than the back ones);

• the tail is distinguished by its thinness and edging of the "peacock feather" type;

  

  Angora's tail looks like a peacock feather

• thin wool has no undercoat, is silky, lengthens in the area of the shoulder blades and neck (forming a "collar"), as well as around the tail (creating the appearance of "pants").

The signs that make up the breed's shortcomings include coarse features and too large body sizes

Disqualifying signs are:

• stocky body;
• kinks on the tail, shortening or other mutations of this limb;
• the presence of strabismus.

If we talk about the color of the Angora cat, then initially the pussies were exclusively white. Currently, breeders have achieved a wide variety in the color of the wool of these purrs.

So, recognized colors for the Turkish Angora are:

• black - solid toning of wool and skin with a resinous or charcoal pigment;
• cream - uniform coloring of the pile in pale yellow shades with darkening at the roots;
• blue of all shades - gray shades with darkened roots;
• torti - red or brown spots stand out brightly on a black background;
• red - rich brick red color of the coat without marks or blotches;
• tabby - the presence of clear wide stripes that form bracelets around the neck and limbs;
• calico - black and red spots are located on a white background throughout the body;
• bicolor - white wool is combined with pile of black, cream, blue or red shades;
• tiger tabby - numerous stripes are graphically outlined and arranged in a dense pattern;
• smoky (black, red, cream, cake, blue) - a thin white undercoat is hidden under the coat of the main color.

Photo gallery: variety of coat colors of the Angora cat

Tortoiseshell color is one of the rarest in Angora cats

Bicolor in Angora purrs involves dyeing wool in two colors

Red cats are also found among Angora pussies

Black Angoras have long caused superstitious fear among impressionable citizens

Tabby at angora - the classic version of the striped color

Calico - color that gives an unusual look to the Angora cat

Blue shade of wool makes Angora look like a snowball

The cream color in Angora cats is a very delicate shade

The black smoke color makes Angora a mysterious and mysterious creature

Habits and character

The Turkish Angora is the embodiment of a true cat - gentle and loving. These graceful pets are attached to the owner until the end of their days, remaining faithful and loyal pets.

Angora cats are loyal and loving pets

Representatives of the breed are often compared to dogs, because purrs have a tenacious mind and a willingness to memorize even complex commands. Angora cats adapt to open and close front doors, to bring objects in their teeth. In addition, snow-white cats and their colored cousins are absolutely not afraid of water and know how to swim.

Other features of the behavior of the Angora breed are:

• friendliness and openness;
• hospitality and interest in strangers in the house;
• patience when playing with young children;
• kindness towards other pets with a clear desire for leadership among them;
• developed hunting habits.

Also, the owners of Angora cats note persistence in the nature of adorable pets. This manifests itself in a relentless meow until the owner fulfills the purr's request.

The Turkish Angora is suitable for those who like to spend time at home and rarely leave for trips, since the sensitive animal can hardly tolerate loneliness and begins to yearn without its owner. If business trips cannot be avoided, you should take care of acquiring a companion for a cat. And since the Angora cats are mobile and playful, together they will find something to their liking without the slightest difficulty.

Video: about the breed Turkish Angora

Turkish Angora health

Despite the external fragility, Angora cats have strong immunity and rarely get sick. With careful and attentive care of caring owners, animals live up to 12-15 years, and some individuals "go to the mark" and up to twenty years.

Long-livers are often found among Angora cats

The most famous ailment among the inhabitants of the white angora is congenital deafness. But despite popular belief, not all white cats are deaf. The disease is rare, and then only among blue-eyed individuals.

Other diseases of the breed are called by veterinarians:

• hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - a hereditary disease in which pathology is formed in the heart muscle (supportive therapy, the main contingent is males aged 3–7 years);
• cerebellar ataxia is a genetic malfunction in which kittens 5 weeks of age develop neuromuscular disorders leading to impaired coordination of movements (there is no treatment, vigorous physical activity is indicated).

It is important for the prevention of diseases to undergo timely check-ups with a veterinarian (once every six months) and regularly get vaccinated in accordance with the vaccination schedule

How to choose an angora kitten

Due to the wide prevalence of the breed in our country, the choice of a Turkish Angora kitten is not difficult.

The choice of Angora kittens in Eurasia is very large

At the same time, the popularity of the breed and the variety of colors of the Angora give the scammers a reason to give gullible animal lovers mongrel kittens disguised as thoroughbred Turkish beauties. Therefore, when choosing a pet, it is better to abandon private breeders, preferring reliable nurseries. Moreover, prices for Angora cats are relatively low.

So, for a kitten of the pet category, as a rule, they ask no more than 5 thousand rubles, and individuals of the breed and show class cost about 20 thousand rubles

Having decided on the purpose of acquiring angora furry (for home, breeding or participating in competitions), future owners often face the choice of the sex of the cat. In this case, it must be remembered that Angora cats are much more affectionate and more tender than cats, and the latter often show leadership qualities and phlegm.

Other nuances that you should pay special attention to when visiting the nursery will be:

• the appearance of the kitten - the animal must be clean, moderately well-fed and with a thick, uniform coat;
• the behavior of the baby - angora is distinguished by curiosity and a high degree of mobility along with playfulness (and sometimes a tendency to pranks);
• availability of the necessary vaccinations and pedigree;
• the degree of socialization of the pet - conscientious breeders from an early age accustom kittens to the litter box and hygiene procedures.

In order not to become the owner of a mongrel purr, you need to remember some specific features of the appearance of Turkish angoras:

• wide set of ears;
• pointed tip of the tail in the form of a "needle";
• long slender paws;
• straight profile of the nose without a depression.

As a rule, in catteries, booking of Turkish Angora kittens is valid, since no more than three or four babies are born in a litter. And they will sell the handsome man they like to the potential owner only at 9-11 weeks of the purr's life.

Keeping angora cat

The breed is distinguished by its cleanliness and neatness, which is expressed even in the absence of the Angora purr's desire to spoil furniture or gnaw on indoor plants.

Angora cats themselves are very clean.

Nature has also prudently endowed the wool of snow-white beauties with dirt-repellent properties. This property was passed on to the colored descendants bred as a result of further selection. However, this specificity of physiology does not negate hygienic procedures and other measures for the care of the Angora pet.

Hygiene and toilet

The reputation of Angora cats was "tarnished" by the spread in Russia since the 1990s of white outbred purrs under the guise of purebred fluffs with Turkish roots. Because of this, there is still an opinion among the people that angora shed heavily, the wool of animals allegedly often falls into lumps.

However, in reality, everything is different. True Turkish Angora practically does not lose hair, except for the periods of shedding (spring and autumn). Therefore, it is enough for an animal to comb the fur coat once or twice a week. And the absence of undercoat and the specific silk smoothness of the hairs minimize the likelihood of hair tangling.

Angora cats rarely molt - only in autumn and spring

Bathing angora is also not recommended too often - colored representatives of the breed are allowed to water procedures no more than two or three times a month. And albinos are washed once a week, because otherwise the fur coat of such fluffs becomes yellowish or dirty gray. In this case, the wool is treated with special anti-yellow shampoos.

Along with these procedures, Angora cats are regularly carried out:

• ear cleaning - weekly with a cotton swab dipped in warm boiled water or ear mite drops;
• brushing your teeth - twice a week using special brushes and toothpastes for cats;
• eye wash - every day with a cotton pad treated with brewed tea or chamomile (warm water from a teapot is also suitable);
• removal of hairballs from the stomach - monthly with the help of cat grass or a special paste to remove hair;
• clipping - as the nail plates grow, but not more often than once a month (as an alternative - purchase of a scratching post).

If we talk about a toilet for an angora cat, then special attention should be paid to the quality of the filler. The main condition for these long-haired purrs will be the ability of the composition not to stick to the "panties", as well as the absence of dust after the pet visits the tray.

It is better to choose a place for the toilet once and for the whole life of the animal. Secluded corners away from front doors and noisy appliances will be ideal.

Video: caring for the Turkish Angora

Food

Angora cats are quite active creatures, spending most of their time playing and exploring the surrounding space. Therefore, you need to feed the pussies at least four times a day.

Angora cats need to be fed more often than other purrs

However, due to the inability of the Angora to control the amount of food consumed, portions should be limited to 150-170 g. Then the pet will not get fat and retain the gracefulness inherent in the breed.

The following foods should be included in the diet of the Turkish Angora:

• protein food - boiled meat (beef, rabbit, chicken), as well as boneless sea fish;
• vegetables and herbs - zucchini, carrots, potatoes, parsley;
• cereals - oatmeal, rice and buckwheat porridge;
• eggs - boiled (chicken and quail);
• fermented milk products - kefir, cottage cheese, low-fat sour cream.

When the Angora cat's menu consists of natural food, it is imperative to add vitamin and mineral complexes to it to maintain a healthy nutritional balance. And so that the cat does not have digestive problems and the food is digested normally, it is better to accustom the angora to a certain routine. By serving food at the same time, you can avoid not only health problems for your pet, but also ensure the satiety of the fluffy for the whole day.

If the animal eats ready-made food, it is better to give preference to premium and super-premium products. And also it is worth paying attention to the holistic food that has been gaining popularity in recent years, since such food is made without adding flavors and preservatives.

Recently popular holistic food does not contain flavorings and preservatives

The following can harm the delicate stomach of the Turkish Angora:

• onion and garlic;
• spices and spices;
• smoked meats;
• fried and salty foods;
• milk;
• sweets and pastries;
• pasta and bread.

In addition, white angora should not be fed with seaweed and food with food coloring, as well as some offal (liver and heart). These dishes contain active pigments that can give the coat an ugly dirty red or dusty color.

Breeding Turkish Angora

If the owner has decided to obtain offspring from a thoroughbred pet, you first need to register a nursery. After that, you can start looking for mating partners.

Breeding Angora cats begins with the registration of the cattery

Mating can be carried out after the angora beauty is strong enough to carry a pregnancy - this is an age from one to one and a half years. Seals are also advised to start dating no earlier than a year.

Pregnancy in angora lasts 63–67 days; childbirth is rarely accompanied by complications. Therefore, there is no need to take the tailed mother to the veterinary clinic. The owner only needs to support his pet morally and constantly be present nearby.

Castration and sterilization

If the breeding of Turkish Angora is not included in the owner's plans, veterinarians advise to castrate or at least neuter the fluffy. The difference lies in the fact that the first operation irrevocably deprives the cat of fertility, while the second leaves a chance for small squeaking lumps to appear in the house one day.

Castration of Angora cats will relieve problems during the mating season

Modern veterinarians begin to remove the genital glands from the age of two months, since the approach to surgical intervention has changed. If in the old days the emphasis was on abdominal surgery, now preference is given to a more gentle method - laparoscopy. Thanks to new technologies, the recovery period for the purr is significantly reduced, and complications are excluded.

12 hours before the operation, you need to transfer the pet to the water and stop dispensing food. And deworming and preventive measures to remove fleas and ticks are carried out a month before going to the veterinarian.

After arriving home, the animal is given food in small portions for a day and watered with water in large quantities. It is also necessary to monitor the movements of the purr in order to exclude falls and injury. Since anesthesia is still in effect at this time, the furry's coordination of movements may be impaired.

Angora cat owners reviews

The Turkish Angora is praised for its cleanliness and high intelligence. In addition, these "snow queens" get along well with children and retain a playful disposition until old age.

Angora cats are a popular and inexpensive breed of tailed purrs

In the author's opinion, Angora cats are animals with a rather peculiar appearance. The lack of undercoat makes it possible to get a fluffy one for those who dreamed of a long-haired pet, but were afraid of wool scattered throughout the house. Turkish Angora not only does not shed, but also requires occasional washing. And to stroke such a purr is a pleasure. After all, hands are literally buried in the airy silk of the wool cover. Therefore, spending time at home in the company of such an adorable pet will keep warm and tenderness in your heart for a long time.

The Turkish Angora is a beautiful and intelligent cat breed known to the world since Byzantium. The acquisition of fluff is not difficult due to its widespread prevalence throughout Europe, and care is not much different from caring for other representatives of the cat family with long and thick hair.