Turkish Angora at a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Weight
- 2.3–4.5 kg
Typical for the breed, not a promise about any one cat. Not assessed yet: Shedding, Vocal, Indoors and outdoors, Owner experience, Typical lifespan.
Is the Turkish Angora right for you?
Like every breed, the Turkish Angora is not the right fit for every home. Based on the breed’s typical traits:
May suit you if…
- You have, or would like, another cat.
- You have a calm, cat-friendly dog and can introduce them slowly.
- You would enjoy an active, playful cat and have time to play every day.
- You would like a coat that is fairly easy to look after.
Consider another breed if…
- You have young children at home.
- You would like a calm, laid-back cat.
How would the Turkish Angora fit your lifestyle?
Choose a few details for a general, non-guaranteed view.
About the Turkish Angora
The Turkish Angora is a graceful, fine-boned cat with a long body, long legs, a richly plumed tail and large, upright, tufted ears set high on the head. Beneath its soft, silky coat it is surprisingly firm and muscular. It is typically very intelligent, active and affectionate, and likes to be involved in everything its owners do.
Key characteristics
General breed tendencies, not a prediction for an individual cat.
- Size
Medium
A mid-sized cat.
- Coat length
Semi-long
A semi-long coat.
- Activity level
Very active
Very active; needs plenty of play and things to climb.
- Grooming
Weekly
The coat usually needs brushing about once a week.
- Shedding
Not assessed yet
Our sources do not say enough yet.
- Vocal
Not assessed yet
Our sources do not say enough yet.
- Good with children
Older children
Usually better with older, calmer children.
- Good with other cats
Usually sociable
Usually enjoys the company of other cats.
- Good with dogs
Often fine
Often gets on with a cat-friendly dog.
- Suits first-time owners
Not assessed yet
Our sources do not say enough yet.
- Time alone
A few hours
Usually copes with a few hours alone.
- Indoors and outdoors
Not assessed yet
Our sources do not say enough yet.
The breed comes from Ankara, formerly called Angora, in Turkey, and is thought to be the oldest known longhaired breed and probably an ancestor of other longhaired cats. Written records of the breed in Europe go back to the 16th and 17th centuries. In the early 1900s Turkish Angoras were used in Persian breeding programmes, and the breed almost disappeared as a separate type. Turkey, which regards the cats as a national treasure, set up a preservation breeding programme at Ankara Zoo, concentrating on white cats with blue, gold or odd eyes. Cats from the zoo were taken to the United States in the 1960s and became the foundation of the breed in North America.
In the UK, the Turkish Angora is rare. The GCCF has given it name recognition, but there is no active interest from GCCF breeders. This means Turkish Angoras can be registered with the GCCF and may be shown at its shows as Pedigree Pets or on exhibition.
Turkish Angora temperament
Turkish Angoras are usually outgoing, affectionate and highly interactive. They want to "help" with everything, will greet visitors at the door and entertain guests, and are often called dog-like. Many sleep snuggled up with their owners and follow them around.
They are very clever and can learn to open cupboards and doors, so they are known for getting into things. Intelligence varies between individual cats, but an ignored Turkish Angora is likely to find ways to make you pay attention. TICA notes that they respond best to firm but gentle handling.
Size and appearance
This is a small to medium-sized cat with a long, slender, firmly muscled body, long legs with the hind legs longer than the front, and small, round paws. The head is a medium-long, smooth wedge with large, almond-shaped eyes, which can be blue, green, green-gold, amber or odd-eyed. Adults typically weigh about 2.3 to 4.5 kg, and males are usually larger than females.
The single coat is fine and silky, with a long, full ruff and tail and "britches" on the hind legs. It is shorter in summer and fuller in winter. White is the traditional and most common colour, but most other colours and patterns are accepted; the CFA excludes chocolate, lilac and the pointed pattern.
How active is the Turkish Angora?
TICA calls the Turkish Angora the race-car of the cat world: always on the go and keen to play, with kitten-like playfulness well into adulthood. It is extremely agile and often found in high places, such as on top of a door or the tallest cupboard. It loves chasing toys, playing fetch, learning tricks and chasing a laser light, and excels at feline agility.
Turkish Angora grooming
The silky single coat has little or no undercoat and rarely mats, making this one of the easier longhaired breeds to care for. A comb through once a week is usually enough to remove loose hair, though older cats may need combing more often. Many Turkish Angoras like water, so bathing, when needed, is often tolerated well. Like any cat, they also need regular nail trimming, eye cleaning and dental care.
Indoors and outdoors
The CFA says Turkish Angoras are independent enough to stay at home while their people are at work or school. TICA, however, says this sociable breed is best suited to a home with another cat or dog for company if nobody is home all day.
Living with a Turkish Angora
Turkish Angoras tolerate frequent handling and are playful, entertaining companions. The CFA describes them as wonderful pets for young children, while TICA describes them as comfortable with older children.
Whatever the breed, young children should be supervised around cats and shown how to stroke them gently and let them walk away.
Children
Usually better with older, calmer children.
Other cats
Usually enjoys the company of other cats.
Dogs
Often gets on with a cat-friendly dog.
Being left alone
Usually copes with a few hours alone.
Other cats and pets
Turkish Angoras generally get along with other pets, as long as the other animals accept the Turkish Angora as the boss. TICA suggests another cat or dog can keep one company when people are out.
Turkish Angora health
Not yet reviewed by a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice: speak to your vet about your own cat’s health.
Both TICA and the CFA describe the Turkish Angora as healthy, with no specific health problems known in the breed. Some have lived into their early 20s.
Deafness in white cats
White Turkish Angoras, especially blue-eyed ones, can be fully or partly deaf. A BAER hearing test can identify this, and in some countries white kittens must be tested. Breeders reduce the risk by mating white cats with coloured ones; coloured Turkish Angoras do not carry this concern.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
A heart condition that TICA says all breeders should screen for.
What health checks should you ask about?
Responsible breeders and rescues are happy to talk about health, and any pressure to decide quickly is a reason to walk away. Before taking a Turkish Angora home, it is reasonable to ask about:
- Health testing of the parents. Ask which health tests the parents have had for conditions known in the breed, and to see the results.
- Veterinary and vaccination records. Kittens should have had a first vaccination and a vet check, with records you can take home.
- Microchip information. In England, cats must be microchipped and registered by 20 weeks old. Ask who the chip is registered to and how the transfer works.
- Registration paperwork. Registration papers, where they apply, record pedigree. They do not by themselves prove health or how a kitten was raised.
How much does a Turkish Angora cost to own?
There are two costs: bringing a Turkish Angora home, and looking after one well. Kitten prices depend on the breeder, health testing and demand; the adverts below show what sellers are asking today.
Ongoing costs are the ones new owners most often underestimate: food, insurance (which usually rises with age), routine vet care, vaccinations and parasite treatment, dental care, grooming, litter, scratching posts and toys, and a cattery or a sitter for holidays. Budget for the whole of the cat’s life, not just the first year.
Buying a Turkish Angora
If you have decided the Turkish Angora suits your life, take the same care choosing where your cat comes from. Meet the kitten in person, see it with its mother, and look at how the litter is raised.
- Check who you are dealing with: every Mypetzilla advert shows the seller type and what we have checked.
- Ask about health testing, vaccinations and the microchip before you commit.
- Take your time. Do not be rushed by deposits or "last one left" stories.
- Meet in person before paying anything, and keep conversations on Mypetzilla.
Adopting a Turkish Angora
Turkish Angoras do come up for adoption, through rescue organisations, breed rescues and private rehoming, often because an owner’s circumstances have changed rather than any fault of the cat. An adult cat arrives as a known quantity: its size, coat and character are already on show.
Rescues will usually talk you through the cat’s history, any medical care, and the home it needs, including children, other animals and time alone. Be honest about your circumstances: a good rescue would rather place a cat once, well.
Turkish Angoras looking for homes
Live from Mypetzilla, updated as pets are listed.
Find Turkish Angora adverts for sale and for adoption on Mypetzilla now.
Similar breeds you may want to consider
Turkish Angora FAQs
Is the Turkish Angora good with children?
Usually better with older, calmer children. Individual cats vary with breeding, upbringing and health, so ask about the cat you are considering.
How active is the Turkish Angora?
Very active and usually keen to play. Short play sessions every day help any cat stay fit and settled.
How much grooming does the Turkish Angora need?
Typically: about once a week.
Can the Turkish Angora be left alone?
Usually copes with a few hours alone. Every cat needs company, play and someone to check on it each day.
Does the Turkish Angora get on with other cats?
Usually enjoys the company of other cats. Introduce cats slowly, with separate food, water, litter trays and resting places.
Is the Turkish Angora good with dogs?
Often gets on with a cat-friendly dog. Individual cats vary with breeding, upbringing and health, so ask about the cat you are considering.
How big does the Turkish Angora get?
Adults typically weigh 2.3–4.5 kg.