Angora cat personality

The Angora cat is the Turkish Angora, just for the sake of clarity. Secondly, we should take cat breed personality with a pinch of salt. Perhaps this is being too cynical but we should be cautious in branding an entire group of cats with the same identical personality for the obvious reason that each cat is an individual with their own histories. Although selective breeding is likely to create some uniformity despite focusing on appearance.

Turkish Angora Cat, Ankara Zoo, Turkey - Photo: copyright Angora Cat Association. — Turkish Angora Cat, Ankara Zoo, Turkey – Photo: copyright Angora Cat Association.

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Putting that intro aside for a moment, the Angora has been variously described as: affectionate, sweet, polite, courteous, responsive, gentle, fastidious, loyal, alert and intelligent. Sometimes they are shy and aloof and sometimes outgoing and gregarious.

You see what I mean? It’s like asking an astrologer to predict how your day will go: plenty of pleasant generalisations and nothing specific to play safe.

In 1834 (the date tells you how long this cat breed has been around) Sir William Jardine wrote:

“[Angora cats] are frequently kept in this country as drawing-room pets, and are said to be more mild and gentle in their tempers than the common cat…We have not hear much in praise of their utility.”

It is nice to see that this description somewhat matches the general one earlier on this page. In 1868, Charles Ross, wrote the following about the Angora cat personality and appearance:

“The Cat of Angora [Ankara in Turkey] is a very beautiful variety, with silvery hair of fine silken texture… they are delicate creatures, and of gentle dispositions. Mr Wood, while staying in Paris, made the acquaintance of an Angora, which ate two plates of almond biscuits at a sitting. This breed of cat has singular tastes; I knew one that took kindly to gin and water, and was rather partial to curry. He also ate peas, greens and broad beans (in moderation).”

This was a time when there was no such thing as commercially prepared cat food. All domestic cats lived off human scraps. Although ‘Cats’ meat men were in the pet food home delivery business during the 18th and 19th centuries and into the 20th century‘ in Great Britain. This must have been a hungry cat and an example of the first vegetarian domestic cat!

Moving to more modern times, Gloria Stephens in her book with the cat photographer Tetsu Yamazaki, wrote this about the Turkish Angora temperament:

“The Turkish Angoras are elegant, active and intelligent cats. They are usually gentle, easygoing and affectionate..[they] are quick, this is quick-witted and quick moving and sometimes quick tempered.”

I have read the word ‘gentle’ quite a lot in describing this cat’s personality. I hope this page helps you decide whether to adopt one or not.

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