Turkish Angora
The Turkish Angora is a breed of cat.
This originally from Turkey Angora cat is noisy gene studies, the oldest long-haired breed of purebred cats and thus also the mother of all long-haired breeds. This oriental breed has a natural origin, because it is caused by the mutated long-hair gene. She is one of the oldest cat breeds in the world. Turkey appointed them even to the national cat. ( Angora is the old name of Ankara and associated former province, now the capital of Turkey). In her home country she is called " Ankara kedisi ".
History / History
Since the 15th century, the Turkish Angora in Turkey is known as a separate breed. She was the first long-haired cat who came to Western Europe. Turkish sultans of the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century they sent as a gift to the courts in England and France. As the first long-haired cat at all in Western Europe it was sure of success. Kings such as Louis XV. , Were admirers of those white cats with mysterious eyes and gave them as a precious gift to further princes. In the 18th century it was a status symbol at the European courts. Numerous paintings of this time documenting this kind of luxury gifts. Crown Princess Victoria of Schleswig -Holstein was the owner of such a white cat. At about the same time, the French naturalist Nicolas- Claude Fabri de Peiresc brought some of these cats from Turkey to France. They also came with Italian sailors to Europe.
In the 18th century the breed came into vogue and became the favorite of the nobility. At the court of the French kings was everywhere. Louis XV. , Louis XVI. , Cardinal Richelieu and Marie Antoinette were owners of what was then very popular and famous cats. In a book by the French naturalist Georges- Louis Leclerc de Buffon this cat breed was first mentioned in 1756 and illustrated. The nobility worshiped this noble, long-haired and graceful cat breed, because at this time in Europe only the local, short-haired breeds were widespread. It was highly valued and were paid very high prices for the procurement.
Since then, much time has passed. With the emergence of the Persian faded, the star of the Angora. In the 60s, the flock of pure -bred Turkish Angoras went himself in their home country, Turkey, back to a threatening degree. A few copies were held there in the zoos of Ankara and Istanbul in order to ensure the continued existence of this breed. In Turkey, the Turkish Angora cat is now considered national cat and bred among others in the zoos of Ankara and Izmir. There alone the white cats are considered noble.
In the 1950s, the first American breeders imported even a Angorapärchen from Turkey to cultivate today again increasingly popular breed further. In 1954, the first Turkish Angora came to the United States. 1973, the American cat breed organization CFA recognized the white variety, the colored animals in 1978. During the 70 years, the first Turkish Angora came from the U.S. and Turkey to Germany. But mainly the breeding based generally on Turkey imports.
It succeeded in 1954 the American Lyn Pierce ( Kenlyn Cattery ), a cat named Pucette Michelle (female odd-eyed white) from the Istanbul Tiergarten to America to import. This cat was not bred, however, since it was said that really purebred animals are found only in the area of Ankara, and from there the first Turkish Angora to USA and Canada were then imported into the 1960s. Much later also Zookatzen from the Istanbul Zoo were accepted because of these breeding stock also consisted of Ankara Zoo cats.
From Kenan Taspinar ( Taspinar Cattery ) 1962, a white kitten with a different eye color from a private breeder in Ankara Turkish Angora was imported. These Turkish breeders were involved with in the Ankara Zoo program, so that these animals were to each other again in relation. 1968 imported Mr. Taspinar five other Turkish Angora Cats, including " Duman ", a black-silver- tabby tomcat. In 1970 he left his entire breeding stock Gisela Stoschek ( Tai - Phoon Cattery ).
1963 was registered by Colonel Walter Grant and a pair of white Turkish Angora. These two went by name in the history of the Turkish Angora. Their names were " Yildiz " and " Yildizcek ," they were a year earlier born in Ankara Zoo. The first offspring of these two cats sold the Grants exclusively castrated because they wanted to ensure that their bred cats are bred to Ankarazookatzen or their pure offspring. To establish a breeding stock, imported the Grants 1966 another pair of cats from the Ankara Zoo. In the offspring of these cats some breeders built years later on their basis.
Almost simultaneously, namely in 1964, imported Mr. Leinbach and his wife a pair of white Angoras from the Ankara Zoo to America. Their names were " Sam Oglum " and " Aliya 's Snowball". The Leinbachs worked closely with Lee Thornton ( Thornton Cattery in CFA Cattery Thornton Desert in the other cat associations ) together that helped them to register these animals. In 1965 Thornton yet another white odd-eyed Turkish Angora girl named " Belkizar ", which was later mated with a cat named " Sam of Mountain Home." The offspring of this mating were together with some Grant and the Leinbach - cats the foundation of Thornton cattery.
To get a cat out of this zoo was associated at the time with very great difficulty. But also in Germany and the Netherlands were imported from zoos in the early 1970s cats. A significant role was played by the zoologist Michael Reimann ( Tha Makhuas Cattery ) and Nadiya Mardak ( Cattery Ueskuedarsaray ) in Germany. Reimann succeeded in the 1970s to import a couple from Turkey. These animals have been named Türkiye - Ithal 's ( Turkey - Import). The bred from animals of the Lord Reimann bear the name " Tha Makkuas ".
The TUA, as the Turkish Angora is named after international Rassesatandards is genetically related to the Van cat (Turkish Van ). At first glance, these breeds are similar to a little. The Van cat is larger and even likes to swim in the water. Randomly discovered in 1955 by two British photographers in Southeast Anatolia cats with silky semi-long coat, which had the head and tail red ( auburn ) drawing. This race, which was held only for one type of Turkish Angora, Turkish Van was just the cat. These were held in contrast to the Turkish Angora only by private individuals. As a gift, the photographers got a male and a female, which they took with him to England. Four years later again Vankatzen were imported, scheduled breeding in England could begin. Without permission from the Turkish authorities not Turkish Van was allowed to run.
Appearance
Today's Turkish Angora is powerful elegant the bears with a medium long silky fur on the body. Therefore it also belongs to the category of semi-longhair cats. It is easy to clean and has no undercoat, as seen, for example, in the Persian cats. The true muscular, yet graceful physique completes the picture of this medium-sized breed. Although the look may perhaps be delicate, it is still very sturdy. The head is smooth and wedge-shaped, with almond-shaped and usually slightly raised eyes ( so-called " gooks " as in East Asian people usual). Great attention is paid to the ears of some breeders today: they are supposed to be large, open and high on the head with a fine brush on top. But it is important just as the harmonious overall appearance of the cat: slim, elegant and high on the legs. The tail is very bushy, making her natural grace emphasizes once more. The appearance of the cat has changed over time. From the originally imported from Turkey, some very powerful cats in the course of years a graceful cat breed has evolved with a rather long, slender body. This type of Angora cats is not as uniform as in others, seasoned races because they do not exist, many breeders and lovers of cats today.
The silky, shiny and very fine fur is considerably shorter in summer than in winter. This is due to the hot summers and cold winters, the Anatolian and Caucasian mountain areas. So it is perfectly adapted to its natural habitat. In the winter she wears a tight collar. The hair on the abdomen is slightly wavy. On the hindlegs, it has dense "Pants". The feet are rather small and round in between with fur. The coat is the collar and the tail longer. Frequent combing or brushing is not necessary.
The Turkish Angora is now recognized in all the clubs in the traditional colors: white, black and red, the diluted and silver varieties of these two colors, with and without spotting and with or without tabby. It is now grown in almost all color varieties. Unwanted and recognized colors are in this breed: Chocolate, Fawn, Lilac and Point.
First, only the white cats were recognized. (Fédération Internationale Féline: international umbrella organization of cat breeding associations ) until the early 1990s, the colored varieties at the FIFe recognized and well received championship status. The standard has not changed since the FIFE.
In Turkey, the Turkish Angora is still true today just as purebred if the cat has a pure white coat. The eye color is irrelevant.
Character
The Turkish Angora is a rather straightforward race. She has a good-natured character. There are very lively, jump strong and spirited animals, but without any aggression. It remains her life a playful and very curious cat. The second page of the essence of Turkish Angora is love and loyalty to their owners. Has it closed a person or a family in her heart, not a minute is left unused, to seek the contact here. The cats keep themselves usually always close to their fellow human beings. They often behave like dogs and a walk with their master or mistress "heel ". Duration purring and cuddling are not uncommon and highly desirable from her. If she has the feeling that they get too little attention, it invites pats her a relentless. Their joy knows no bounds. Therefore, they are also well suited for children. Skillfully retrieve the Angoras a small ball or a fur mouse.
Despite their delicate appearance, forgive their natural robustness lots of unintended errors of cats beginners. You trust the people around them fully, if they are not disappointed too much and too often. These characteristics make it an ideal family cat. Recklessness characterizes this cat and she is rarely anxious, but comes rather purring loudly, with outstretched tail and head coquettishly thrown back into humans. Thanks to its balanced nature they get along very well with all other dogs and also with dogs. However, a young cat includes more new friends, because she still has not had any prejudices.
The Turkish Angora has a reputation for being approachable, friendly, sophisticated, to be gentle, friendly, attentive, affectionate and intelligent. Sometimes she is shy and reserved, then again extroverted and sociable. One of the oldest descriptions of the breed dates back to the year 1834 by William Jardine: " Angora cats in this country are often kept as Salon kitten. They are considered gentle and friendly than ordinary cats. " Charles Ross delivered in 1868 another early description of the Angora: " The Angora is a beautiful breed with silvery hair of silken texture [ ... ] You all are wonderful creatures with friendly beings " you. has lost nothing of its originality; and thus has a great instinct safety, even cats who have grown up under human care, the prey hunting and killing have not forgotten.
Diseases
In the Turkish Angora an autosomal recessive ataxia occurs, the genesis of which is not yet elucidated. Ataxia affects kittens who do not learn to walk and die young. Adult cats can no longer suffer from it.
In pure white cats often occur relatively hearing, deafness, disturbances of balance and tremors of the eyes. These problems are not race- specific, but tied to the white color.
Breed Standard
Form: a middle long, straight wedge (no moderate wedge or wedge-shaped foot, but a wedge from the base of the ears to tip of nose ). Jowls should be tolerated. Profile: formed from two flat surfaces (straight lines), which meet at an angle above the eyes. No Break.
Chocolate, lilac and point ( Siamese ) are not allowed.