My Favorite Cat Breeds: Turkish Angora

Elegant Turkish Angoras are graceful, energetic and usually the first to welcome visitors into your home. At one point all longhaired cats were called Angoras due to the Angora thought to be the source of the long fur gene.







History
Turkish Angoras are one of the ancient, natural breeds of cat, having thought to have originated in central Turkey, in the Ankara region (historically known as Angora). Cats from eastern mountainous regions of early Anatolia and through inbreeding and natural selection, developed into longhaired breeds like the Turkish Van and the Turkish Angora.

Longhaired cats were imported to Britain and France as early as the late 16th century. There the Turkish Angora was used, almost to the point of extinction, to improve the coat on the Persian. The Angora of the 20th century was used for improvement in the Persian coat, but the type has always been divergent from the Persian – particularly as the increasingly flat-faced show cat Persian has been developed in the last few decades.

Appearance
Turkish Angora cats have long, silky coats and elegant, sinuous bodies. Though it is best known for a shimmery white coat, Turkish angora cats can display a variety of colors: solid colors, such as black, blue, red and cream; in tortoiseshell or blue-cream; in classic, mackerel and spotted tabbies of many colors; and bi-colored cats in any of these colors with white. In recent years, many breeders have begun working with smoke and shaded colors as well. Any shade and pattern, except those that denote hybridization (such as lavender, chocolate or the pointed pattern) is accepted for CFA registration.

Eyes may be blue, green, amber, yellow, or odd-eyed (e.g., one blue and one amber or green). Ears are pointed, large and wide-set. The eyes are almond shaped and the profile forms two straight planes. The plumed tail is often carried upright, perpendicular to the back.

The W gene responsible for the white coat and blue eye is closely related to the hearing ability, in this and other breeds, and presence of a blue eye can indicate the cat is deaf to the side the blue eye is located, with some being totally deaf if bearing two blue eyes. However, a great many blue and odd-eyed white cats have normal hearing, and even deaf cats lead a normal life if kept indoors.

Personality
Turkish Angora cats are playful, intelligent, athletic and involved. They bond with humans, but often select a particular member of the family to be their constant companion. They are in turn, very protective of their person.
Turkish angoras are energetic, and often seek out "high ground" (or perch) in the home. This perch is then used as a way to observe activity of the home. This could include tops of doors, bookshelves, and other furniture. Some ride on their owners' shoulders.

My Favorite Cat Breeds: The Ragdoll

The Ragdoll is a popular breed of indoor-only cats with semi-long hair and (usually) blue eyes. They are known for their docile temperament and affectionate nature

Appearance:
The Ragdoll is one of the largest domesticated cat breeds with a sturdy body, large frame, and proportionate legs. Their pointed coloration is responsible for the blue eyes of the Ragdoll. Ragdoll kittens are actually usually born white but gain some of their coloration at 8 – 10 weeks and full color and coat at 3 – 4 years.
The Ragdoll’s semi-long coat is plush and silky, consisting mainly of long, soft guard hairs. The absence of the thick, dense, insulating undercoats results in reduced shedding and matting.

Markings:
Color Pointed – One color darkening at the extremities (nose, ears, tail, and paws) with no white anywhere in the coat

Mitted – Same as pointed, but with white paws like mittens on the front and boots in the back and abdomen. With or without a blaze (a white line or spot on the face) and must have a white chin belly stripe.

Bicolor –  (more white than Mitted) White legs, white inverted V on the face, white abdomen and sometimes white patches on the back. Only their tails, ears, and the outer part of their masks show the darker markings. In the Van pattern, only the top of the mask, ears, and tail, and perhaps a few spots on the body, show darker markings.

Lynx – A variant of the above types having tabby markings.

Tortie- A variant of the above typed with tortoiseshell markings

Colors:

Red (or Flame)

Seal

Chocolate

Blue

Lilac

Cream (Red Dilute)

Temperament:
Ragdoll cats tend to be more interested in humans than some breeds of cats. They are known to run to greet you at the door, follow you from room to room, flop on you, sleep with you, and generally choose to be where you are. Many Ragdolls have been taught to come when called and play fetch. They are gentle cats, and usually play without extending their claws. Ragdolls tend to be floor cats, not jumpers.

Unlike many cats, Ragdolls are notable for collapsing into the arms of anyone who holds them, even if they are cradled on their back. They love their people, greeting them at the door, following them around the house, and leaping into a lap or snuggling in bed whenever given the chance. They need time with their families so it is not a breed to get if you will not be home enough to give them the attention they crave.  However every cat is different and individual so no guarantees that your Ragdoll will let you hold them like a baby or sit in your lap for a long time.

Sweet and docile, Ragdolls are not "fighter" cats. They view any on-comer as a loving entity. For this reason, Ragdolls are strictly indoor cats. Many Ragdolls have been killed by cruel humans or loose dogs.

Overall Ragdolls are beautiful and friendly cats fit for a loving home with plenty of time to devote to them.

My Favorite Cat Breeds: The Balinese

The Balinese is known as the long-haired Siamese, which is a pretty accurate description as they are pointed and have blue eyes. The breed originated as a natural mutation of the Siamese, making it essentially the same cat but with a medium-length silky coat and a distinctively plumed tail.

Just like the Siamese, they come in two different body types, traditional and modern. My personal favorite being the modern. Also any with the following colored points: Red Point (also called Flame Point), Cream Point, Cinnamon Point, Fawn Point, Seal Point, Chocolate Point, Blue Point, Lilac Point, Lynx Point (in any of the colors), Tortie Point (in any of the colors), and Torbie Point (in any of the colors), are actually called Javanese, as Balinese are only recognized in standard Siamese pointing.

Balinese and Javanese are sociable, vocal, playful and inquisitive, and considered among the most intelligent of all long-haired breeds. They love human contact, and crave attention. They have been claimed to cause fewer allergy problems.

My Favorite Cat Breeds: Sphynx and the Different Types of Hairless Cats

*Disclaimer: I promote adoption first, my cat is a rescue. But I have a love for some of the unique breeds that are rare to find in shelters and I would likely adopt another before being able to afford these breeds.)

The Sphynx breed actually has many sub-breeds which include: Elf, Bambino, Canadian Hairless, Russian Donskoy, Peterbald, and Ukrainian Levkoy.

Starting with the Canadian Hairless, this is what most people see as a hairless cat

The breed was developed in the 1960's and they are not truly hairless. They actually are said to feel like chamois. They can have whiskers or they may be broken or non-existent. Their skin displays the coloration or patterns they would have with fur.

Then we have the modified versions, like the elf and bambino.
 The elf was created when a sphynx was breed with an American Curl producing a hairless cat with curled ears.

The Bambino was created when a sphynx was breed with a munchkin, producing a hairless munchkin.

These breeds are distinct from the Donskoy and the Peterbald which are both Russian breeds, whose characteristic hairlessness is caused by a dominant gene, whereas the Canadian hairlessness is caused by a recessive gene. Otherwise, though, the Donskoy and the Canadian Sphynx look a lot alike.

The Peterbald, however, has an oriental appearance from a Donskoy being breed with an oriental shorthair. This gives it a long face and a leaner look with its long legs.

A drawing shows the differences between the three main breeds:

The final breed I will mention is the Ukrainian Levkoy, which I think looks like a grumpy old man.
This breed was created by crossing a Donskoy with a Scottish Fold so it has the folded ears.

Overall, my favorites from this group of breeds would have to be the Elf and the Peterbalds for their unique and exotic looks. I am well aware of the care that is required for these breeds and if I ever was in a situation where I could afford one of these babies, I would would do plenty of research before deciding if this breed is truly for me.