MyCatBreeds
Turkish Angora is originated from Turkey but American Shorthair is originated from United States. Both Turkish Angora and American Shorthair are having almost same weight. Both Turkish Angora and American Shorthair has almost same life span. Both Turkish Angora and American Shorthair has same litter size. Turkish Angora requires Moderate maintenance. But American Shorthair requires Low maintenance
The Turkish Angora is a very old breed that naturally developed. It is thought that the breed developed in Turkey in the Ankara region formerly known as Angora.
There are records that indicate that the Turkish Angora made an appearance in the UK as early as the 14th century already. Also, the beautiful longhaired cat was also introduced to the United States.
A breeding program was started for these cats in the early 20th century and it was then taken to Canada in 1963 and accepted as a championship breed.
While white was the only acceptable color at first, they now come in many different colors.
Often sailors of old would keep cats onboard to protect their stores from mice and rats, and so it was when settlers sailed from Europe to North America.
They had cats onboard and once onshore they interbred. But in the 20th century, a selective breeding program began to bring out the best qualities of these cats.
The American Shorthair is one of these cats – a pedigreed cat that is accepted by all North American cat registries. At first, the cat was known as the Domestic Shorthair but it was renamed in 1966.
This is a medium-sized, muscular cat that can weigh between 3 and 6kg. It is a long-haired cat and the single coat has no undercoat.
While the Turkish Angora is essentially white, its coat can come in a number of other colors.
The cat’s body if firm and fairly long, the legs are long with the hind legs being longer than the front legs, The tail is long and plumed, the head has large fairly pointed ears that can have tufts of fur. The eyes are large and almond-shaped and slant somewhat upwards. The color of the eyes can be blue, green, gold, amber.
This is a very active, athletic cat and he likes nothing more than to leap up on to high perches to survey his surroundings. They are intelligent, affectionate cats and they seem to gravitate towards one special human family member.
The cat is also protective of his human family. If any family member wants to stroke and pet them, they are absolutely delighted, just lapping up the attention.
They are smart enough to learn a few tricks too. They aren’t vocal cats but are sweet and quiet as well as being affectionate, making them perfect companions.
They don’t do well with changes, and a sudden change in his lifestyle can be upsetting for him.
The American Shorthair is a large, sturdy cat with a round face and short ears. Their coats can come in many different patterns and colors. They shed so the fur will need to be brushed from time to time.
They stand at about 20 – 25cm in height and they weigh between 5 and 7kg.
The American Shorthairs are easy, no-fuss cats. They’re also low maintenance, healthy, amicable cats, ready to even be friends with strangers and your dogs.
He is an intelligent cat too so it will be important to provide him with toys that challenge him to think. These good-natured cats make perfect famiy companions.
Beautiful to look at, this cat has got all the characteristics that make him a wonderful pet. He is playful well into adulthood and will love an assortment of stimulating toys to be amused by.
He is a sociable breed and doesn’t enjoy being left alone for hours. It would be far better to have another feline friend to keep him company.
Active and entertaining, you’ll be amused by your Turkish Angora and be so glad that you made the decision to bring such a charming creature into your home and heart.
The American Shorthair is a playful cat and is quite capable of amusing himself, but will welcome your games too. He’s a big cat so make sure he gets enough exercise to avoid him becoming obese.
He is a low maintenance cat and you don't have to be worrying about him too much as he just likes to get on with life. He loves being well-fed, getting your attention and lying in the sun.
This is one cat that doesn’t need a lot of attention so being easy to care for, independent, playful, and affectionate, you’re going to have one of a kind companion and friend.
Turkish Angoras are generally healthy, but white cats with blue eyes can be prone to deafness. It is the W gene that is responsible for the white coat and blue eyes. Unfortunately, the presence of a blue eye can indicate deafness in the cat. But there are these cats that have 2 blue eyes and they have normal hearing.
Another problem that has been seen in this beautiful cat breed is Ataxia which is a deadly neuromuscular disorder.
The most common sign of ataxia is an abnormal way of walking and the cat is actually unsteady on his feet. Sometimes the feet can even drag on the ground. Thankfully, screening has reduced the incidence of the disease.
Also, watch out for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a kind of heart disease that causes the heart muscle to enlarge.
Just remember that with a cat, diet can also play a huge role in the health of a cat. Your furry friend needs the right meaty foods with the right balance of nutrients to remain healthy and strong.
With good nutrition and a loving caring lifestyle, the American Shorthair can live to be 15 – 20 years of age and even longer.
Their flattish faces also make the American Shorthair prone to respiratory issues.
The Turkish Angora has a single coat and the lack of an undercoat makes it easy to brush him and keep the coat soft and silky. Also, the coat is only fully developed when the cat is about 2 years old.
Check the inside of the ears. You may not want to clean them out yourself as you have to be very careful not to damage the ears. The vet and cat groomers can help you with this.
Keep your Turkish Angora’s litter box spotlessly clean. Cats are very particular about the cleanliness of their litter box and the feces will need to be removed every single day.
Your American Shorthair will benefit greatly from regular brushing and he looks forward to this grooming period and being pampered by you for a few minutes.
It helps to remove the dead hair from his coat and this is important so that he doesn’t ingest the loose hair. While you’re brushing him, you can also run your fingers over him to make sure there are no unusual lumps. Anything odd or any sign of illness you should take your cat to see the vet immediately.
Make sure your American Shorthair has access to the best quality food there is. There are many commercially manufactured cat foods available and your vet can advise you on the best one to choose.
Cats are carnivores so aways choose food that is high in proten. Food must be provided in accordance with the cat’s age and energy levels. Certainly a generic cat or one with a medical condition will need a certain type of food than a young, frisky kitten. Make sure your cat always has access to fresh, cool water.
Make sure your furry feline friend has everything he needs to ensure he is comfortable. This includes feeding bowls, toys, a litter box, soft bedding, nutritious food as well as scratching post and climbing equipment.
Have your pet neutered or spayed if you don’t want kittens from your cat. These procedures have enormous health benefits for your pet and it prevents even more kittens coming into a world that already has far too many unwanted pets.
Make sure your cat is up to date with all his vaccines because without being vaccinated your cat can succumb to any one of the life-threatening cat illnesses there are. Kittens need to have their first vaccines at 8 weeks of age.
If you have to take your cat to the vet you need a carrier basket so that your cat feels comfortable and safe inside it.
You can’t just put your cat on a leash and take him to the vet as inside the car he will lurch around and cause you to lose attention. A transport box that is familiar to your cat will be the best way for you and your cat to travel.