Other Name
The Angora is a natural breed, not manmade, and existed in Turkey at least as far back as the 15th century. Angoras are usually thought of as white cats with blue or green eyes, but they come in many colors and patterns, including tortoiseshell, tabby and calico. They are a small to medium-size cat. The Turkish Angora is a naturally occurring breed from the "old country," with traces of its line going back several millennia. Medium in size with a long, svelte, well-balanced body, it is the very picture of grace. Long is the adjective that best typifies this cat breed. The Angora has a long body, long, slim legs, long tail, long coat, large ears and wide eyes. It is a dainty cat, with fine bones, a slim chest, and a super soft coat that belies its hardiness.
It’s hard to imagine that this cat with the long, delicate, silky coat comes from the harsh mountainous regions of Turkey, but that coat protected the cat quite nicely against chill winters in Ankara, formerly known as Angora (also home to the Angora goat, which produces the fleece for mohair). The cats may be descendants of the Manul cat, domesticated by the Tatars. The earliest written reference to the cats dates to 16th century France, so they were no doubt popular objects of trade. At the birth of cat shows in the late 19th century, Angoras were among the breeds exhibited. That was their downfall. Persian breeders began to use them in their breeding programs, and in England, at least, the Angoras lost their identity as a separate breed. Fortunately, they still existed in their homeland, where they were considered a national treasure. A breeding program was established at the Ankara Zoo to preserve them. In the 1950s, American servicemen stationed in Turkey saw the cats and told people at home about them. The zoo was reluctant to part with any of its cats, but in 1962 it gave a pair to Colonel and Mrs. Walter Grant: an odd-eyed white male and an amber-eyed white female. They became the foundation of a breeding program in the United States. Two years later, Sergeant and Mrs. Ivan Leinbach brought a pair back to Arizona, followed by Mrs. Ray Porter, who imported a pregnant female whose kittens had been sired by one of the stud cats at the Ankara Zoo. More of the cats were imported in the 1970s. The Cat Fanciers Associations began registering white Turkish Angoras in 1968 and recognized them for championship status in 1972. Colored Turkish Angoras were not recognized by CFA until 1978. Turkish Angoras are also recognized by The International Cat Association and other cat registries.
