Turkish Angora

Temperament

The Turkish Angora looks like a lady but acts like a rascal. It is fast, agile and always busy: it investigates cabinets, climbs the tallest furniture and happily plays fetch. It learns commands and tricks easily. It bonds closely with people, often with one person in particular whom it follows around the house, but it is rarely a typical lap cat. It likes to be at the center of things and is one of the more talkative breeds. It usually welcomes guests and gets along well with dogs and other animals. It has its moods, too: VCA notes that an Angora can get irritated quickly when something doesn’t suit it. It is independent enough to handle a few hours without its people, as long as it has something to do.

Energy

calmvery energetic

Affection

independentvelcro pet

With children

not idealgreat

With other pets

difficultgreat

Trainability

stubborneager to learn

For first-time owners

for experienced ownersyes

With strangers

waryoutgoing

Playfulness

dignifiedeternal puppy

Shedding

minimalheavy

Grooming

easydemanding

Being left alone

strugglescopes well

Apartment living

needs a house and yardgreat in a flat

Talkativeness

quietchatterbox

Indoor-only life

needs outdoor accessgreat

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Turkish Angora for?

The Turkish Angora suits people who want a beautiful but active, talkative cat and have time for daily play. It will do fine in an apartment with floor-to-ceiling cat trees and in a home with a gentle dog. For someone looking for a calm cat to nap in their lap, a Ragdoll or a British Shorthair is a better choice.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

The Angora’s coat is silky and has no dense undercoat, so it rarely mats. Combing once or twice a week with a fine-toothed comb or a slicker brush is enough, a little more often in summer when the cat sheds its longer winter coat. Baths are usually unnecessary. White cats with blue eyes should have their hearing tested (BAER), because a deaf cat should not be outdoors unsupervised. The pale skin on the ears and nose burns easily, so a windowsill in full sun is not the best place to nap. An Angora needs a cat tree with high perches, daily hunting-style play and puzzle toys. Food is best given in at least two smaller meals, and treats should not exceed 10% of daily calories.

Health and breed-related conditions

The Turkish Angora is not known for many inherited diseases, but there are a few problems worth knowing about. The most important is deafness linked to the white coat gene: according to PetMD, it affects 65–85% of white cats with two blue eyes. Colored Angoras don’t have this problem. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy has been described in adult cats, and cases of ataxia, a loss of coordination, in kittens. Light-colored cats are also prone to sunburn. VCA gives a lifespan of 15–20 years, but there are no population studies to confirm it. When buying a white kitten, ask for its BAER hearing test result.

• congenital deafness in white catsMainly affects white cats with blue eyes; according to PetMD, 65–85% of them are deaf. Colored cats are not at risk.
• hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)Described in adult Angoras; often symptom-free and picked up when listening to the heart.
• kitten ataxiaCases of impaired coordination have been reported in young kittens of this breed.
• sunburnLight-colored cats have sensitive skin on the ears and nose; it is worth limiting exposure to strong sun.

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The Angora comes from central Anatolia and is a natural breed. Its history in Europe can be traced back to the 17th century, when longhaired cats from the Middle East reached France and England. They were considered the cat of aristocrats, and Marie Antoinette is said to have been among their owners. In the 19th and 20th centuries, Angoras were crossed with Persians so heavily that the breed practically disappeared in Europe. It was saved by a Turkish breeding program at the Ankara Zoo, focused on preserving the white cats. In the mid-20th century, the first Angoras from this program reached North America. The CFA granted the breed championship status in 1973, at first only in white, and in other colors from 1978.

Fun facts

• Until 1978, the CFA recognized only white Turkish Angoras.
• Marie Antoinette is said to have owned Angoras.
• A Turkish breeding program at the Ankara Zoo saved the breed from disappearing.
• Some white Angoras are odd-eyed, with one blue eye and the other amber or green.

Frequently asked questions

This breed also appears in

• Long-haired cat breeds

Sources

1. 1CFA – Turkish Angora breed profilecfa.org
2. 2VCA Animal Hospitals – Turkish Angoravcahospitals.com
3. 3PetMD – Turkish Angorapetmd.com
4. 4Wikipedia – Turkish Angoraen.wikipedia.org
5. 5FIFe – Recognised breedsfifeweb.org
6. 6WCF – Breed standards semi-longhairwcf.de

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.