Turkish Angora

The Turkish Angora is one of the oldest known longhaired breeds, named for Ankara, the Turkish city once called Angora. It has charmed Europe since at least the 1600s, and Turkey treasures it enough to run a preservation program at the Ankara Zoo.

It is built for grace. A fine-boned, athletic body carries a silky single coat that flows when the cat moves, with a plumed tail and a delicate wedge-shaped face. The classic Angora is a brilliant white, often with eyes of blue, amber, or one of each.

The personality is lively and bold. Angoras are playful, clever, and athletic, fond of high perches and of being the center of attention, and they bond closely and follow their people from room to room.

One trait needs care. White, blue-eyed Angoras can carry a gene linked to deafness, especially on the blue-eyed side, so odd-eyed cats may hear on only one side. The single coat is silky and far easier to groom than a double one.

The Turkish Angora is a lively, bold cat that bonds closely and likes to be in charge of the room. It is playful and athletic, fond of high perches and water, and so attached to its people that it follows them about and tends to choose a favorite.

The silky single coat has no dense undercoat, so it rarely mats and needs only weekly brushing. The breed is generally healthy, but white, blue-eyed cats can carry a gene linked to deafness, and some lines carry the heart condition HCM and a rare neurological disorder, so reputable breeders test.