Turkish Angora Cat Breed Information
Also known as: Ankara Cat
One of the oldest documented cat breeds, the Turkish Angora is a long-haired single-coat cat originally from the Ankara region. Athletic, intelligent and people-oriented, with white the original and most-recognised coat colour.
A highly affectionate, highly trainable, great with young children cat. On the practical side: low grooming demands and minimal drool.
About the Turkish Angora.
The Turkish Angora is one of the oldest documented cat breeds, traceable to the Ankara region of modern Turkey from at least the 16th century. The breed nearly disappeared in the 20th century but was preserved through a formal Ankara Zoo programme. White is the historically most-prized coat colour but many other colours are now recognised.
Personality and behaviour
Affectionate, athletic, vocal in moderation, and people-bonded. The breed is intelligent and engaged, with a personality closer to Siamese or Burmese than to Persian.
Care and grooming
Twice-weekly brushing. The single-layer coat does not mat easily.
Indoor vs outdoor in New Zealand
Indoor or catio.
Where to find a Turkish Angora in New Zealand
NZCF and Catz Inc list registered breeders (NZCF Turkish Angora, Catz Inc Turkish Angora). For white blue-eyed kittens, ask whether the breeder BAER-tests for hereditary deafness. Expect a four to seven month waitlist, NZD 1,200 to 2,800.
The Turkish Angora, by the numbers.
Each trait scored 1 to 5 on the AKC scale. The verdict synthesises the data; the panels below show the strengths, group averages, and the full trait table.
Top strengths
Family Life
avg 4.3Affectionate with Family
Good with Young Children
Good with Other Pets
Physical
avg 2.5Shedding
Grooming Frequency
Social
avg 3.5Openness to Strangers
Playfulness
Adaptability
Independence
Personality
avg 3.6Trainability
Energy Level
Vocal Level
Prey Drive
Mental Stimulation Needs
Living with a Turkish Angora.
A 24-hour breakdown of how this breed's day typically goes, scaled to its energy, mental-stimulation, and grooming needs.
What a Turkish Angora costs to own.
An indicative NZ lifetime cost: purchase, setup, then food, vet, insurance, grooming and other annual outgoings. Adjust the inputs to see how your choices change the total.
A Turkish Angora costs about
$141per month
$32
$5
$27,620
Adjust the inputs:
Where the monthly cost goes
Food
$32 / mo
$385/yr · breed-appropriate dry & wet food
Insurance
$31 / mo
$373/yr · lifetime cover protects against breed-specific claims
Vet (avg)
$44 / mo
$530/yr · routine checks plus breed-specific risk
Grooming
$8 / mo
$100/yr · brushes, shampoo, professional clips
Other
$25 / mo
$300/yr · toys, treats, dental, boarding
Indicative NZ averages calculated from breed weight, grooming need and screened-condition count. One-off costs (purchase $2,000 + setup $300) are factored into the lifetime total but not the monthly figure.
How does the Turkish Angora compare?
This breed
Turkish Angora
$27,620
15-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$2,300
- Food (lifetime)$5,775
- Vet (lifetime)$7,950
- Insurance (lifetime)$5,595
- Grooming (lifetime)$1,500
- Other (lifetime)$4,500
Reference
Average NZ cat
$23,600
14-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$500
- Food (lifetime)$7,000
- Vet (lifetime)$5,600
- Insurance (lifetime)$5,600
- Grooming (lifetime)$1,400
- Other (lifetime)$3,500
A Turkish Angora costs about $4,020 more over a lifetime than the average nz cat, mostly highervet and higherpurchase + setup.
What to ask the breeder.
Reputable NZ cat breeders test for these conditions and share results. The bigger health drivers for the breed appear in the Common group.
Common
1 conditionHereditary deafness in white blue-eyed cats
The dominant white gene that produces white blue-eyed Angoras also causes congenital deafness in roughly 60-80% of affected cats.
Occasional
1 conditionHypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
An occasional condition in the Turkish Angora. Worth asking about.
Rare but urgent
1 conditionAtaxia (kittens)
Heritable neurological condition in some lines.
The Turkish Angora in NZ.
- Popularity: A small but consistent NZ pedigree breed.
- Typical price: NZ$1200–2800 from registered breeders or rescues
- Rescue availability: rare
- NZ climate fit: Single-layer coat needs warmth in cooler regions.
- Living space: Apartments and houses both suit.
Who the Turkish Angora is for.
Suits
- Owners wanting an athletic longhair without the Persian grooming load
- Households home most of the day
- Multi-pet homes
Less suited to
- Long-hours-out single-cat households
- Outdoor-roaming setups
Common questions.
Are white blue-eyed Turkish Angoras deaf?
Should a Turkish Angora live indoors?
If the Turkish Angora appeals, also consider.
Breeds with a similar profile that might suit your household.
Turkish Van
A semi-longhaired cat from the Lake Van region of eastern Turkey, distinctive for the white body with coloured head and tail (the "van pattern") and an unusual love of water and swimming.
Siberian
Large, agile, triple-coated cat from Russia with a reputation for producing lower levels of the Fel d 1 cat allergen. Affectionate, family-oriented, and at home in cooler NZ regions.
Norwegian Forest Cat
Large, robustly-built semi-longhair developed naturally in the Norwegian forest and coast for centuries before formal recognition. Calm, independent, weather-adapted, and one of the larger pedigree cats in NZ.
Balinese
The longhaired Siamese, with the same body type, colourpoint pattern, intense vocal personality and trainability as the Siamese itself. The longhair gene is recessive and appears occasionally in Siamese litters.
Last reviewed:
Sources for this pageInformation only. Breed traits and health notes on this page are aggregated from public registry and breed-authority sources. Individual animals vary; this page is general information, not veterinary, behavioural, or insurance advice. Always consult a registered NZ vet or breeder for guidance specific to your situation.