The cat is one of those most elegant and enigmatic of animals. Considered by many to be like a best friend, cats win people over with their big personalities and character, and soon become the apple of their owners' eye. Cats are beautiful creatures, and Turkish Angora cats have a long, fluffy fur coat that needs to be looked after by its owner, on top of the standard care routine that every pet should have.
If your cat is a Turkish Angora, or if you're thinking of adopting an Angora kitten in the near future, read on. This OneHowTo article will tell you How to care for a Turkish Angora cat, and many of our tips also apply to other breeds.
Weight of a Turkish Angora cat
An adult male Turkish Angora cat can weigh up to 4.5 kilos (9.9 lbs), with females weighing between 3 and 4 kilos (6-9 lbs). If you have an angora cat at home, give it food that won't make it gain too much weight. Carrying extra weight can affect their agility, especially those that live in small apartments. They will only have a small area to move around, jump or get any exercise in, meaning that if you don't control the amount of food recommended for their age, their weight could be affected, causing obesity. Avoid giving it your food, especially if it contains fat or sugar.
Fur
The Turkish Angora cat's fur is one of its most striking features and keeps it at an appropriate temperature, especially in winter. So, taking good care of its fur will contribute to your pet's wellbeing. Because there is so much of it, you must take extra special care of it and brush it daily using a comb that's specifically for this type of fur.
Combing your angora's fur not only prevents it from knotting, it also cleans it and helps prevent your cat from swallowing its hair every time it cleans itself, or at least from swallowing quite so much of it. Removing excess hair through brushing prevents hairballs that often form in their stomachs.
Your cat's health
Bear in mind that certain things are essential for the health of your pet. It's like having a baby - it requires vaccinations and regular visits to the vet to keep it in good health. The first three vaccines it needs to have are for feline leukaemia and rabies, as well as a deworming treatment (especially during the first few weeks of its life). There are ways of getting rid of unwanted guests, such as fleas, by using sprays, drops and other specific treatments that you should first discuss with a vet to make sure that the cat doesn't ingest the product when it licks itself (one of its favourite 'hobbies').
Love
In stark contrast to the commonly held belief about cats, angoras make great family pets, as they're very patient with children and very affectionate. Like any cat, it will demand all of your attention and will want to be the king of the house, but the emotional part in particular is very important. If the cat is still a kitten it won't show a great deal of emotion, but if it is adopted as an adult it will really value getting a second chance and appreciate its new owners, being surprisingly devoted to them.
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- Being patient with your cat. Keep in mind that cats are different to dogs - they won't chase after a ball (or, at least, not when you want them to) and are quite particular in the way that they show affection.
- Arm yourself with accessories that will be really useful throughout your cat's life. Whatever the cat's age, some items are essential: a scratching post, hair brush, ball, litter box, etc.
- Time. Spend time with your cat, it will truly win your heart.