Angora cat: photo, breed description, character

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Turkish Angora has long won worldwide fame. It is distinguished not only by a surprisingly delicate coat, but also by a wonderful character. Numerous kennels around the world breed both classic pure whites and many colored ones. The number of fans, intelligent and highly athletic pets, provides them with a secure future. The breed is not threatened with oblivion.

History

Angora cat (a photo of a typical representative of a white color can be seen below) is considered a descendant of a wild African cat. There is no exact information about the origin of the breed, although these animals have been living next to humans for more than one hundred years. Most experts are inclined to the theory that there was a mutation in the gene responsible for the length of animal hair. Moreover, such a mutation arose in three countries at once: Persia (Iraq), Russia and Turkey. About hybridization with other breeds option is not considered. The name "Turkish Angora cat" was named after the Turkish cityAnkara (formerly Angara).

The emergence of Europe, some scientists associate with the crusades of the 14th century, others suggest that they appeared only at the end of the 16th. Most of the animals were used to improve the Persian variety. Only at the beginning of the 17th century it was recognized as an independent breed. On the American continent, the Turkish Angora cat appeared in the middle of the 20th century.

The Turkish government is very responsible for the Angora breed. In 1917, a program was launched and is still working to preserve the snow-white odd-eyed (with blue and yellow eyes) angora. The breed received official recognition in 1973, and only pure white animals were subject to registration. Since 1978 other suits have been recognized. Today they are recognized by many felinological organizations of the world: ACFA, WCF, CFA, CFF, FIFe, TICA and others. There are two varieties - American and European, but Turkish breeding animals are the most valued.

Description

Brief description of the breed:

• graceful medium-sized animal;
• very homey, doesn't like the street;
• great mouser;
• character phlegmatic;
• smart, friendly.

External description of the Angora cat breed:

• the body is strong, flexible, somewhat elongated, with a fragile bone structure;
• medium sized head, tapering towards the chin;
• weight - from 2.5 to 4 kg;
• ears pointed, large, with tassels;
• neck is thin, medium length;
• almond-shaped eyes with pink rim, amber ground color, often blue-eyed or odd-eyed individuals;
• hind legs slightly longer than the front;
• tail luxurious, long, very well furred;
• The coat is flowing long, silky, thick on the neck, tail and belly.

Breed standards

Purebred Angora cats, photos of which are presented in the article, must meet strict breed standards. Permissible colors of the iris in animals are interesting. Saturated deep tones are welcome:

1. Blue, sky blue, sapphire.
2. Green, emerald, gooseberry color.
3. Gold, golden green, amber with a green tint.
4. Amber, copper.
5. Colorful in combination:

• blue and green;
• green and amber;
• blue and amber.

Moreover, a prerequisite for individuals with multi-colored eyes are the same color saturation.

Requirements that experts place on the Angora cat (standard description):

• small to medium head, flat wedge shape, straight and long nose, cheeks allowed;
• ears wide at the base with sharp tips, well furred inside;
• eyes are large, expressive, set a little obliquely (the color is described above);
• long slender torso, shoulders the same width as the hips, shoulders just below the sacrum, catsslightly larger than cats;
• paws are medium-sized, graceful, round, tufts between the fingers are welcome;
• legs are long, strong;
• tail with full hair, pointed at the end, long;
• wool of fine texture, with a silky sheen, slightly longer on the tail and collar, "trousers" on the hind legs.

Pets may be disqualified for strabismus, stocky, rough body type, tail kink.

Suit

A cat of the Angora breed (a photo of a black angora can be seen in the article) according to accepted standards can have a different suit:

1. White. Most common, no blemishes, no pads of feet, no pink colored nose allowed.
2. Bi-color.

Options for the second paragraph:

• blue with white;
• cream and white;
• black and white.

The muzzle, belly, chest and paws must be white. An inverted "V" is welcome on the muzzle. White collar and tail allowed.

• Blue. A light shade is valued more, the color should be absolutely even from head to tail, paw pads and nose should be blue.
• Blue smoke. Under the blue coat is a pure white undercoat. The white layer is thin near the skin itself, it can be seen if the wool is moved apart. Nose pads are blue.
• Blue cream. Clearly defined brown spots are evenly scattered across the blue background.
• Blue tabby (mackerel, classic). The main tone is pale blue, the same color at the lips and chin. The contrast pattern is dark blue, the pads of the feet and nose are pink.
• Red. Differs in depthrichness, brilliance and brightness, without any marks. The nose and pads are a deep brick color.
• Red tabby (mackerel, classic). The dark red pattern is clearly visible in the main red tone, the paw pads and nose are brick red.
• Cream. Beige shade without markings, nose and paw pads are pink. Light beige is welcome.
• Cream tabby (mackerel, classic). Chin, lips, base tone is a very pale cream shade, the pattern is not too bright, the nose and pads are pink.
• Brown tabby (mackerel, classic). The main tone is rich copper-brown. Drawing, chin, lips, rings around the eyes, hind legs are black. Paw pads brown or black, nose brick red.
• Patchwork tabby. Base color blue, silver or brown tabby with patches of cream and/or red.
• Marble tabby. The classic elements of the picture are noticeably different from the main background. Characteristic pattern on the head in the form of the letter "M".
• Tabby mackerel. There is a black stripe along the back and vertical ones go down the line of the spine. Narrow and numerous stripes are preferred. On the head is a drawing in the form of the letter "M". There are clear rings on the tail and paws.
• Silver tabby (mackerel, classic). The main tone, chin, lips - pale silver. Pattern and paw pads are black, nose is brick red.
• Chintz and bleached chintz. White: in the first case with red and black spots, in the second case with cream and blue.
• Tortoiseshell. The main one is black, spots with a clear border of red or creamshade. The distribution throughout the body is uniform. Markings (colors of spots) on the muzzle are welcome.
• Black. Everything should be of this color: the coat, the skin, and the nose. Paw pads can be either black or brown. No shades of red or bleached undercoat are allowed.

Black smoke. A thin strip of white undercoat is visible when the animal moves. The nose and paw pads are black

Invalid colors: lilac, chocolate, Himalayan or these colors in combination with white.

Feeding

Angora cat breed has a fairly sensitive digestive system. Do not feed "human" food to animals. Among the owners of cats there are adherents of natural nutrition and fans of ready-made food.

Dry food or canned food is only premium. Moreover, from a practical point of view, it is better to dry, canned pet can get dirty. The benefits are obvious - no worries about a balanced diet. Companies produce specialized feed for all age and sex groups of animals, even taking into account their physiological state.

When feeding with natural products, the animal is regularly offered boiled potatoes, cereals, bread, chicken and quail eggs, cottage cheese, low-fat yogurt. For snow-white individuals, the liver, heart and any supplements containing sea kaput are excluded from the diet.

With any food options, the animal is provided with constant free access to fresh water. Long-haired animals are very useful herb for cleaningstomach.

Care

The coat of the Angora cat does not cause any special problems with care. She never falls into tight tangles, does not get confused. Wool, almost devoid of undercoat, is easily self-cleaning. Moulting in animals occurs twice a year. At this time, it is recommended to bathe cats with a special shampoo to remove excess hair. Whites are bathed every two months. To keep the coat in proper condition, it is enough to comb it periodically (at least once a week).

To prevent gum disease, animals brush their teeth. Daily eye and ear examinations can help prevent he alth problems. Once a week, it is recommended to wipe the corners of the eyes with a special lotion. Ears are cleaned as they get dirty. The nails are trimmed periodically. The purchase of a scratching post will save furniture and wallpaper. The cleanliness of animals requires care from the owners of cat litter. Some individuals cannot use it without a timely change of filler. It is recommended to purchase a cat corner with various climbing and lying toys and equipment.

Character traits

The character of the Angora cat at first glance is somewhat slow and aristocratic. But in the soul of this fluffy lump lives a real fidget. Animals love to play. They get along well with other pets. They do not tolerate loneliness well. If the owners are forced to leave the cat alone for a long time, then a playmate is vital for her.

They don't like to sit on their hands, but they will happily spend a couple of minutes onknees or shoulders of a beloved master. They perfectly feel the mood of a person, they can “regret” and “cheer”. A characteristic feature of the Angoras is their talkativeness. They purr almost constantly. In general, they have a calm, balanced character.

Pet owners unanimously note the amazing intelligence of Angora cats. Animals are very smart, easily accustomed to order. Their ingenuity is sometimes amazing, cats can easily open not only any door or drawer, but also the hostess's handbag. They are highly trainable and can be taught simple commands.

It is worth noting that outdoor games in the form of very fast runs around the apartment, jumping (especially high), swinging on curtains and walking along the ledge are common behavior for animals of this breed. To direct energy in the right direction, a variety of designs of corners or even entire trees are used. They will help the animals to warm up without damaging the apartment.

Diseases

Angora cat among experts is considered quite a he althy breed. There are only a few diseases specific to Angoras:

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Symptoms: shortness of breath, a kind of cough (similar to burping wool). Progressive thickening of the wall of the ventricle of the heart often ends fatally. The sudden death of a pet with unexpressed symptoms shocks the owners. Young animals also die. Both purebred and yard cats suffer from this disease.
• Ataxia. Symptoms: a clear violation of coordination of movements, the animal stops moving and dies. Develops in kittensone month old.
• Deafness. It affects white animals with blue or multi-colored eyes. Selection work with careful selection of parental pairs reduces the risk of deaf offspring.

In general, animals of this breed are hardy and live on average up to 15 years, many live up to 20.

Breed advantages

Angora cat will be a wonderful companion for a lonely person. Animals are very affectionate and attentive. They get used to their owners very quickly. Their gentle rumbling has a beneficial effect on the human psyche. The four-legged pet will fit perfectly into a family with children. He will enjoy playing with them. Watching a graceful animal with luxurious hair, regardless of color, can in itself be an aesthetic pleasure. Snow-white individuals with multi-colored eyes look like fantastic animals.

The purchase of an angora in a private home guarantees the destruction of all rodents. They are born hunters and are great at catching mice. The only restriction is the color of the animal. It is better to take a colored cat, white wool will get dirty too quickly.

Kittens

Today, the distribution of the breed around the world makes it possible to acquire good kittens. There are a lot of mestizos and non-purebred animals, so it is better to buy a baby in a nursery with a proven reputation. For a guaranteed purchase of a thoroughbred kitten, you can resort to the help of professionals who are well versed in breed standards. It is difficult to find a thoroughbred animal on your own, there are a lot of mestizos on the market.

Compared to other breeds of cats, the cost of angoras is not very high. The price for kittens in Russia starts from $80-120. It depends on the origin, color, class of the animal. The price for an "elite" class baby, with an appropriate pedigree, often exceeds $500. It is worth noting that the price of keeping a pet does not exceed the usual costs of meeting the needs of the animal: food, filler, veterinary care, purchase of care equipment (bowls, tray, combs, cat corner, toys, etc.).

Myths

There are curious myths associated with angoras:

• The Prophet Muhammad had different eyes according to the color of the iris. Cats with different colored eyes can freely visit mosques, they are considered sacred.
• The first president of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, made an unusual prediction: a man who is bitten on the leg by a white Angora cat with different eyes will be able to continue his work.

Just the facts

Known Facts:

• The snow-white Angora cat with blue eyes is most appreciated, they have a special name Ankara Kedisi.
• Samuil Marshak glorified the animal in the fairy tale "Cat's House". Direct speech of a cat: “I am from an overseas family: my great-grandfather is an Angora cat.”
• Many of the breed love the water and are good swimmers.
• Angora smoky black cat named Mopar - one of the largest in the world, weighs 18 kg, with a body length of 110 cm.
• Angoras lived with the writer Victor Hugo, Queen of FranceMarie Antoinette, Cardinal Richelieu, poet Theophile Gauthier.

• The MidnightBSD operating system was named by developers Carolyn and Lucas Holt after their handsome black angora.
• The condition for registration of animals in the CFA Cat Fanciers Association is that their ancestors belong to Turkish roots.
• Angora cat is a national treasure of Turkey.