Lean and lithe, the Turkish Angora is a semi-longhaired, elegant cat breed, with a long torso and a slender body. With a medium to small sized and fine-boned body structure, these cats have a sophisticated and graceful appearance. The head of a Turkish Angora forms a triangular wedge, with a long and slender neck. The chin is firm and gently rounded. These pretty-faced cats have large and beautiful almond shaped eyes, with a slight upward slant, normally blue, amber or odd-eyed. The ears are large and stand alert on the head. The cats of this breed have long legs that are in proportion with the body, with the hind legs being slightly longer than the front, while the paws are evenly rounded. The Turkish Angoras have a medium-length coat, long and silky, wavy on the underside, without any woolly undercoat. The fur is usually in a pretty and graceful shade of pure white. The tail of these cats is medium in length and normally forms a beautiful plume when fanned out.

The Turkish Angora breed of cats originated in Turkey and was the first known longhaired cat. History has it that the Turkish Angora, a naturally-occurring breed of cats descended from the Manul cat, which was initially domesticated by the Tartars before being migrated to Turkey. It was here that these cats developed their unusually soft coats of a medium length to protect themselves against the extremely cold weather. Interestingly, the Turkish Angoras are widely regarded as a part of the national heritage of Turkey. Some travellers even took a few of these cats to Europe in the 16th century, while some others were given as gifts to the French royal family. It was in the 1940s that the Turkish government created a breeding programme within the national zoos to protect and propagate this amazing breed. Though initially white was the only favored color, Turkish Angora breeders are increasingly focussing on the other colors as well. The first Turkish Angoras arrived in the United States in 1962. However, the cats of this breed are yet to gain an official recognition from The UK Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF).

The Turkish Angora is one of the most affectionate and outgoing breeds of cats. Though they are generally loving toward the entire family, the Turkish Angoras are known to centre all their affection on a single individual with which strong bonds are developed. They are extremely fond of human company and will always want to be in the same room as all the other members of the family. The cats of this breed are the typical lap cats and simply love being cuddled by their owners. Playful and active, the Turkish Angoras love to spend time with their cat toys and highly appreciate owner participation in their playtime. These energetic creatures also love jumping around in their play area. The Turkish Angoras are very communicative and love to respond to their owners. They are very loyal and devoted to their human friends, which makes them an excellent companion. The Turkish Angoras are a very intelligent breed and express great curiosity over their surroundings. They can also be taught activities like fetch with great ease. Interestingly, the Turkish Angoras are known to be the only cat breed to have a predominant sense of humour. They tend to keep their human friends always amused with their antics.

The Turkish Angoras are a loving and loyal breed of cats, making them ideal pets for households with families as well as single individuals. These cats have a very silky, single coat, which does not mat. Hence, grooming is just required in the form of a twice weekly combing with a fine-toothed grooming comb. However, these cats will require more frequent grooming in the molting season, especially to loosen the hair and prevent formation of hairballs. This breed craves for company of other cats as well as their owners. Hence, owners should ensure that they have enough feline company if they intend to leave them alone for a long time. On an average, the Turkish Angora requires approximately 80 Kcals of food per kg bodyweight everyday.

The Turkish Angora, owing to its ancient lineage, is a very strong and healthy breed of cat. They are highly resistant to disease and are normally not affected by the usual feline ailments. However, it is important for all the Turkish Angoras of eight years and above to have an annual health examination, to check teeth, liver and kidney functions and ensure regular vaccinations.