Turkish Angora vs Jaguarundi Curl - Breed Comparison

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.

Found mostly in Central and South America, the Jaguarundi Curl has been bred to look like a wild cat. - the Jaguarundi.

It was in the 1940s that the cat was also found in Florida. It is a result of a crossing between the Hyland Lynx with Munchkins and possibly other short-legged domestic cats.

The Munchkin cat is a medium-sized cat and it also has very short legs – the result of a genetic mutation.

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.

The cat has an alert, intelligent look to him.

Temperament:

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.

This is a medium-sized, strong, muscular wild cat with short legs, a large head and small ears that are curled and set wide apart.

The eyes are wide-set and are large and expressive. The eyes can be gold, green or even blue.

The cat can weigh anything between 6 and 10kg. They can take up to years to reach their weight. The tail of the cat is long and thick, the body long and muscular.

The short coat is a ticked or a spotted pattern and can come in various colors. In most cats, the coats are tawny or solid like the Jaguarundi. In ideal specimens, coats will be tawny or solid like the Jaguarundi.

Temperament:

Maybe it’s the cat’s wild side but the Jaguarundi Curl cat is a shy, elusive and somewhat solitary cat. In the wild these cats only socialize to mate.

It is, however, a very vocal cat. The cat is also a good climber and swimmer and you will need to invest in climbing equipment.

If your Jaguarundi Curl has more Munchkin in him, you may find him far more sociable and actually seeking out the company of his human family.

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 wild Jaguarundi is smallish cat that is a little bit larger than a house cat.

Some people like keeping these mixed-breed, hybrid cats, and they can make good pets, but they do tend to be reclusive. You have to remember that with these cats, part of their genetic makeup is a wild cat, and this just means that you can’t really be sure how they will turn out.

Think twice before you buy a cute little Jaguarunndi Curl kitten. Cat Rescue shelters are seeing a massive escalation in the number of hybrid cats who are just abandoned by their owners.

They wanted a ‘wild-type’ cat and ended up with behavior from the cat that they couldn’t handle. How cruel is that. Its the human's fault, not the cat.

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.

Hybrid cats do have some health issues because of their breeding. Cat owners who choose these cat breeds need to know that they have special needs.

You should speak to your vet about the health of your cat. Domestic cats and wild cats have a different number of chromosomes. These cats wouldn’t normally mate so that when they are crossed during breeding, an abnormal genetic makeup is a result.

Reproductive problems in cats like the Jaguarundi Curl become a common occurrence and stillbirths can be the norm. Often you’ll find that some of the cats are infertile, whether male or female.

You've also got to be aware of vaccines as sometimes they don't work with these hybrid cats. Many times a cat like this is exposed to rabies and you'll find that the vaccine was ineffective.

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.

Be prepared for the new arrival of your cat. Have food and water bowls, warm bedding, toys, litter box, and food all available and waiting.

Your Jaguarundi Curl doesn’t require a specialized diet. You can feed him much the same as your other domestic cats.

The food needs to be high-quality and can be wet or dry food, so long as it makes sure that meat is the top ingredient. Your cat is a carnivore and will require meaty meals to remain healthy. Dietary supplements or vitamins can only do your Jaguarundi Curl good.

You can brush the coat once each week to remove loose hair and to keep the coat shiny.

You want to provide your cat with a litter box and keep it clean too. These hybrid cats don’t easily learn to use the litter box as they should, and they may do their business around your home as opposed to using the litter box.

Get your pet a collar and tag to identify your cat in case he gets away.