Anatolian cat is little known among ordinary people who do not have specific felinological knowledge. Therefore, people often confuse it with representatives of the Angora breed. After reading today's publication, you will learn a lot of interesting things about these animals.
A bit of history
Scientists still have not been able to reveal the secret of the origin of these animals. According to one version, they were domesticated by the ancient Egyptians and developed simultaneously with human civilization.
According to the second theory, Turkey is their homeland. Archaeologists who excavated in the eastern part of the country were lucky to find the remains of human settlements, whose approximate age is estimated at nine millennia. In addition to household items, ritual burials of cats were found there. This suggests that these animals were domesticated long before the Egyptians.
Today, the Anatolian cat, the description of which you will find below, is considered a national treasure of Turkey. But professional breeders became interested in them only at the end of the last century. In 1995, they were first shown at one of the German exhibitions. Three graceful beauties with blue eyes and a snow-white fur coat made a real sensation at this event. It was then that Dutch and German breeders drew attention to them. They bought several representatives of this breed and began their further breeding. In 2000, these animals were officially recognized by the WCF association, although some felinologists still consider Anatolians a type of Turkish van.
Appearance
The Turkish Anatolian cat is distinguished by a strong powerful physique. The weight of these stocky muscular animals ranges from 5-7 kilograms, with the females slightly less than males. Under the beautiful body there are strong, not too long legs with wide oval pads.
The compact wedge-shaped head with a strong chin and rounded cheekbones has beautiful almond-shaped eyes and a straight small nose. Some representatives of this breed have fluffy tassels at the tips of large erect ears.
Coat and color
The body of cats of Anatolian breed is covered with a dense short water-repellent fur. To the touch, it may seem a little harsh. But in fact, the hair of these animals is very thin and silky.
As for the color, it can be anything but Siamese. Very often among the representatives of this breed there are completely white individuals with blue eyes. Therefore, inexperienced people confuse them with Angora cats. Animals of red color may have white marks located on the stomach, face and legs. No less common is black, blue, tortie, cream and smoky coat color.
Anatolian cat: breed character
These animals are characterized by a soft playful disposition. They are very affectionate and friendly. Despite the fact that representatives of this breed respect all family members, from the first days they choose one owner for themselves. It is this person who becomes for them the center of the universe.
Anatolian cat tries to always be close to its adored owner. However, she will not impose her society on him. It is enough for her to simply observe the object of her love, without getting confused under his feet.
In addition to its beautiful nature, nature generously endowed representatives of this breed with a lively mind and a wonderful memory. They quickly remember not only their nickname, but also the names of all kinds of objects. If the owner takes a little time to train his pet, then his cat will not only learn various teams, but will also bring him small things like a remote control or a ball.
These furry creatures coexist perfectly in the same territory with other animals and even get along with dogs. Despite the highly developed hunting instinct, they will never cause harm to domestic hamsters or parrots.
Care Tips
Anatolian cat (Turkish Shorthair) perfectly adapts to any conditions. She is very clean and spends several hours a day to maintain the beauty of her shiny fur coat.
The hair of this animal is not prone to the formation of warlocks, so combing it will not be difficult. You need to bathe such a cat no more than twice a year. Moreover, this procedure will also not cause difficulties, since Anatolians are not afraid of water. Once a week, it is advisable to clean the eyes and ears of the pet with a cotton swab dipped in a weak solution of potassium permanganate or in warm boiled water.
So that the animal does not spoil the wallpaper and upholstered furniture, it is necessary to care for its claws. They are regularly trimmed using a special device, which you can buy at any pet store. Another critical aspect is keeping the cat tray clean. It should always be fresh and dry, otherwise the pet will simply cease to relate there.
If possible, try at least sometimes to walk your cat on the street. It is good if you have a fenced area in which the animal can freely run through the grass.
Life expectancy and health
Due to the fact that the Anatolian cat was not subjected to breeding, the purpose of which was to change certain qualities, she retained all the best that she had inherited from wild ancestors. This is a very hardy animal, has strong immunity and, with proper care, can live up to twenty years.
By analogy with other indigenous breeds, Anatolians can boast excellent health and lack of genetic pathologies. But, like any other living creature, they sometimes get sick. Individuals with blue or multi-colored eyes are occasionally diagnosed with congenital deafness in one or both ears.
From time to time, white representatives of this breed reveal heterochromia. This disease manifests itself in the fact that the cat's eyes are painted in different colors. In itself, heterochromia is not dangerous to the life of the animal, since vision does not deteriorate from this.
What to look for when buying?
The purchase of an Anatolian cat, the price of which is at least 300-400 dollars, is a very important and responsible step. To date, only a few nurseries are registered in Russia that are professionally involved in the breeding of these animals. You can buy such a kitten not only there, but also at a specialized exhibition.
It is important to learn that no serious breeder will not sell a baby who has not reached eight weeks of age. By this time, the kittens have already formed their own immunity and they are fully transferred to self-feeding.
Before making the final choice, observe the behavior of the kids. A healthy kitten is curious and playful enough. He will not sit quietly on the sidelines. He has a shiny smooth coat, clean eyes and ears. Be sure to pay attention to the belly of the baby you like. It should be soft, not swollen. A hard stomach is the first sign of helminthic invasion or poor digestive system function.
Feeding tips
Anatolians are picky about everything about food. They can be given with equal success both industrial and natural feed. In the first case, it is advisable to purchase products of superpremium- or holistic-class, released by trusted world manufacturers.
Those who expect to feed their pet with natural food need to remember that the basis of the cat menu should be quality fresh meat. It can be lamb, beef, rabbit or poultry. In addition, the diet of the animal must be supplemented with boiled eggs, sea fish, rice, buckwheat, cottage cheese and kefir. From time to time, you can offer your Anatolian zucchini, cucumbers and carrots. To improve digestion, the cat will not interfere with young grass, sprouted wheat or oats.
Interesting features
Anatolian cat is unique in its own way. Unlike most relatives, she practically does not meow. Instead, the animal makes sounds very reminiscent of birds chirping. It is able to clearly pronounce individual vowels and even imitate human intonations.
These are very musical cats. With their tail, they can beat the rhythm of the tunes you listen to. They are able to frown and look at objects that cause their concern. A hungry cat can beg for food by nodding to the refrigerator.
Unlike most relatives, Anatolians do not fear water and love to play with it. They can sit for hours, watching the stream pouring from the tap. They also love to fumble rustling bags and chase abandoned items.
Anatolian cat: owner reviews
People in whose houses representatives of this breed live, note their external attractiveness and flexible character. Due to their musicality, playfulness and natural curiosity, they give the owners a lot of positive emotions. The main advantages of Anatolians, many owners include their short coat, which does not require constant combing, interesting colors, kind and mischievous disposition.
The only thing that upsets some potential owners is the rather high cost of kittens of this breed.