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History of the Turkish Angora
The Turkish Angora is one of the oldest semi long hair breeds, maybe even the oldest. They thank their name to the capitol of Turkey, Ankara which in the old days was named Angora. The Turkish Angora was very popular at the French court in the beginning of the 17 century and many aristocrats considered it as an honor if he could get his hands on such a beautiful white cat. Merchants and knights had brought these cats with them from Turkey. Centuries later Europeans took their own cats with them to Canada and America, the Turkish Angora was already there because of the Vikings. From a mixture of European housecats, domestic cats and the Turkish Angora arose the Maine Coon in the state of Main. Around the beginning of the 19 century one started to cross the Turkish Angora with the Afghan Cat and from this the Persian Longhair arose, these cats became so popular that the Turkish Angora disappeared to the background more and more, almost to the point of extension. Because the Turkish government came in to action, a breeding program in zoos was set up to prevent the extension of the Turkish Angora. In the sixties the Turkish Angora became more popular again, especially in America. Because of the exceptional position of the white Turkish Angora, it was almost impossible to export TUA's but in the end one succeeded to legally export some TUA's to America. Trough shows the interest in TUA's grew bigger and by importing from America and later on from Turkey the breed found it's way back to Europe. In the beginning breeders only kept themselves busy breeding the white cats, the colored ones where considered a mistake. Fortunately colored TUA's where soon accepted as real TUA's and that's why al natural colors are accepted nowadays. Black, red, crème, tortoise , even or with tabby-patterns are natural colors. Silver also belongs to the possibilities and everything can be with ore without white. Lilac, chocolate and point are not natural colors so not accepted.
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