Breed Standard

04/13/08

- About the Turkish Angora "Breed Standards"-

Purebred Cat Registries, like the CFA and TICA, maintain written standards for each breed of purebred cat that is recognized by that particular registry. It is these standards that judges study and follow to award points to a cat being judged in his or her ring. The closer a cat is to the written standard for a breed, the higher the number of points the cat will earn. If you plan to show a cat, knowing the standard for your cat's breed is a must.

Below you will find excerpts from, and links to, the Turkish Angora Breed Standards from the Cat Fancier's Association (CFA), and The International Cat Association (TICA).

While there are several registries for purebred cats within the United States and around the world, CFA is the largest and most well-know cat registry in the world. Breed Standards may vary slightly from registry to registry.

According to the Cat Fancier's Association Breed Standard

for the Turkish Angora Cat, "the ideal Turkish Angora is a balanced, graceful cat with a fine, silky coat that shimmers with every movement, in contrast to the firm, long muscular body beneath it." The body of the cat is long and muscular. A common comment regarding the "look" of the breed is

that the cat resembles a fox. On more than one occasion, people looking at the photo to the left have said just that!

The cat's head is "small to medium, in balance with the length of the body and extremities.", and is "a medium long, smooth wedge". The profile of the cat is "two planes formed by a flat-top head and the line of the nose meeting at an angle slightly above the eyes". There is to be no break (or curve) to the profile of the nose. The cat's muzzle lines should be smooth, with "neither pronounced whisker pad nor pinch."

If you go to a CFA cat show, you will see the judges doing things to get the cat's undivided attention, with his or her ears perked up as high as possible on the cat's head. This is because one of the most defining points of a Turkish Angora is the ears. According to the Breed Standard, the ears are "large, wide at the base, pointed and tufted. Set closely together, high on the head, vertical and erect."

In the body, the Turkish Angora should have "overall balance, grace and fineness of bone", and a torso that is "long and slender". They should be "finely boned with firm muscularity". As such, there are many judges who describe the appearance of the Turkish Angora as the "ballerina" of cats.

To read CFA's entire Turkish Angora Breed Standard, Click here

The General Description of the Turkish Angora cat in The International

Cat Association's Breed Standard is beautifully and appropriately worded.

"The ideal Turkish Angora is a perfectly balanced, graceful creature with a fine, silky coat. When you handle it, you are struck by the contrast between the soft flowing coat and the surprisingly firm, long muscular body beneath it. The Angora is a very intelligent, active, and inquisitive breed..."

If you go to the various cat registries and take a look at the details of these two Breed Standards, you will see that there is little difference between them. What you might notice, however is a difference in the way each registry awards points to the cat.

To read TICA's entire Turkish Angora Breed Standard, Click here

Links to other Cat Registries standard for the Turkish Angora Cat:.

Federation Internationale Feline (FIFe)

The American Cat Fancier's Association (ACFA)

The American Association of Cat Enthusiasts (AACE)

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This site was last updated 03/29/08