Cat Spotlight – Turkish Angora
A Turkish Fur-Friend
Hello paw lovers, we are back with another cat spotlight and this time we are heading to the wonderful country of Turkey, home of the Turkish Angora. Turkey is located in Western Asia/South Europe and is rich in history and culture. We have been to Turkey and enjoyed our time with beautiful sights, delicious food and of course wonderful dogs and cats. History is in an abundance and there are many centuries of influence that have shaped the country today. Part of this history is a fluffy and adorable Turkish Angora cat which originate from Ankara, the second largest city in the Region of Anatolia.
Cat History and Survival
Turkish Angora cats have a strong link to longhaired breeds in the present as they were used in an initial breeding programme with Persian cats. Yet, this breeding programme did not bode well for the Turkish kitty as selective breeding saw Persian dominance and there came a great risk in seeing the breed being phased out entirely. While the international scene was fixated on the longhaired Persians, Turkey recognised its valuable feline resident and made efforts to breed and preserve this precious cat and this endeavour has paid off today as we see a thriving population of Turkish Angora today. Appreciation for this cat has grown over the years and it wasn’t until the 60’s that the rest of the world would discover this fluffy treasure once again. Breeding programmes have come a long way since then and many cat enthusiasts will have come across this breed in one place or another.
Caring for the Turkish Angora
History holds many lessons, especially in the cat breeding world. It’s unfortunate that the population of the Turkish Angora faced dwindling numbers due to human preference but its stable population today makes us ever more excited about this adorable breed that comes from the land of Meze and Baklava. Turkish Angora’s are medium sized and their coat length is regarded as medium to long, a little shorter than the Persians. Ankara experiences toasty summers that last quite a stretch longer than the winters, their coats will shed and grow accordingly. We always emphasise caring for your cat’s coat through regular grooming with a brush. Our Turkish feline here is no exception and will require a moderate maintenance regime to keep their coats clean and free of mattes. Their bushy tails are one of our favourite features, don’t forget to brush this either.
Features Through Genetics
The genetic pool of the Turkish Angora has access to numerous combinations that result in varying colours and patterns. Pure breeds can result in solid white coats, tabby, Calico and more. This diverse gene pool also means eye colour can vary between Turkish Angoras. White cats have been seen to have odd-eye colouring, we covered why in our previous blog; Aipaws: Cats Eyes - Shine Bright Like a Diamond. Other coats are also linked to eye colouring too, silvers can see green emerald eyes and others include yellow and amber.
Health Considerations
Health conditions are important to consider in any cat breed. Depending on lineage, there may be a risk towards hereditary conditions. The Turkish Angora has a few potential health issues to be aware of. In some extremely rare instances, kittens may inherit a condition known as ataxia. This is a neurological issue that results in abnormal movements, motor responses are seen as shaky or unsteady gate. White cats possessing blue or odd-eyes (heterochromia) may experience deafness or partial hearing loss. Living with a deaf cat indoors is entirely possible and rewarding, we will cover this in a forthcoming pet blog.
Caring for the Turkish Angora
There’s a lot of choice when it comes to exploring the Turkish Angora and beyond appearances, our focus on temperament is especially important. Choosing a cat for its personality is not an exact science but it can indicate what kind of activities and provisions will be needed beforehand. These cats are moderately sized, a balanced diet supported by exercise will suffice for development and long-term health. Always consult your vet during visits for further recommendations based on your cat’s unique needs. Turkish Angora’s are seen the have docile and loving personalities. While calm, they are curious and intelligent. As an adventurous and energetic cat, owners will have no problems in teaching simple tricks and having longer play sessions with this type of cat if no specific health provisions need to be accommodated. We love the Turkish Angora and its story of survival in history is truly valiant. As they say in the Turkish language – Kedimi çok seviyorum (I love my cat) Meow! 🧡
Images used in this post are taken from sources with no attribution required
Visit - https://aipaws.com
Hive 
Twitter 
YouTube
Instagram
Pinterest
Facebook
Congratulations @aipaws! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :
You can view your badges on your board and compare to others on the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPDo not miss the last post from @hivebuzz:
Vote for us as a witness to get one more badge and upvotes from us with more power!