Conference misery::feline

    My book "You & Your Cat" shows a drawing of a Turkish Angora, and they
    are indeed attractive.  My picture shows a coloring pattern of a dark
    tail and dark circles over the ears, with perhaps a few spots on the 
    back, all on a mostly white cat.  (Dark in this case was orange or
    gold.)  Do they all have this pattern?
    
    I had heard of a "Turkish Van" cat that seemed to be short-haired with
    similar coloring to that described above.  But my book doesn't mention
    this variety.
    
    My alley-cat Bogie is a short-haired white cat with black-brown
    tigerish markings in just those places.  Is is possible that he has
    some Turkish something-or-other in him, or is that a common coloring
    pattern?
    
    Just curious,
    Laurie
    
                                          

    The official breed standards for the Turkish Angora ..
    
    General ..
    Solid, firm, giving the impression of grace and flowing movement.
    
    Head ..
    Size, small to medium.  Wedge-shaped.  Wide at top.  Definite taper
    toward chin. 
    
    Ears ..
    Wide at base, long, pointed, and tufted.  Set high on the head.
    
    Eyes ..
    Large, almond shaped to round. Slanting upwars slightly.
    
    Neck ..
    Slim and graceful, meduim length
    
    Body ..
    Small to medium size in female.  Slightly larger in male.  Torso long,
    graceful and lithe.  Chest, light framed.  
    
    Legs ..
    Long, hind legs longer than front. (gives them GREAT jumping ability!)
    
    Tail ..
    long and tapering, wide at base, narrow at end, full.  Carried lower
    than body, but not trailing.  When moving relaxed tail is carried
    horizontally over the body, sometimes almost touching the head.
    
    Coat ..
    Body coat medium-long, long at ruff.  Full brush on tail.  Silky with a
    wavy tendency.  Waiver on stomach.  Very fine and having a silk-like
    sheen.
    
    Paws ..
    Small and round, dainty.  Tufts between toes.
    
    
    As stated before, these cats are absolutely magnificant looking.  VERY
    graceful and elegant!  Needless to say, they've captured my heart and
    many others that see them.  With their sleek, elegant look and sweet
    expression, they are an absolutely beautiful cat.
    

    RE: .1
    
    The cat that you described sound similar to a turkish van.  It is the
    same thing as a turkish angora, but the "van" is a specific color
    pattern.  
    
    All turkish angoras are long haired.  It sounds like your kitty may be
    more of an american shorthair type.  It's the structure of the cat that
    makes the breed, not the color.  The color of your cat is called a
    brown tabby harlequin.  A BEAUTIFUL coloring!  I just love harlequins
    of any type!
    
    Holly
    

    
    There was a program on the BBC last year about cats and their history
    and there was a longish segment on Turkish Van cats.  The program
    described coloring as mostly white with dark markings or sometimes
    ginger markings and long hair. The most striking thing about "real" 
    Turkish Van cat though is that they have eyes of two different colours.
    One eye is yellow and one is green!  They are absolutely gorgeous and
    much loved in their native land.
    
    LaDonna

    Well, most everyone knows that Kyra's kittens were due this weekend.
    
    yesterday was Kyra's 66th day, so I brought her to the vets to make
    sure that everything was all right.  They did an x-ray of her belly and
    saw one kitten.  They decided to do a c-section because the kitten
    looked big and there was no way she was going to pass it.
    
    When they got in there, they found that she had evidentally aborted
    another kitten, as they found only the placenta.  They worked on
    getting the first kitten breathing, and they finally did.  So,
    yesterday, I brought Kyra home with one kitten.
    
    Kyra's a great mother.  I finally got him nursing, and all was well
    last night.  I went to bed around 10:00.  Woke up at 2:30 and all was
    fine still.  This morning, I woke up at 6:00 and found Kyra in the cage
    in her box with the kitten, but the kitten was dead. )-:
    
    Unfortunately, I think that the infection had gotten to him as well.
    )-:
    
    Holly
    

    Hugs to you and Kyra.
    
    Karen
    

    Holly.....so sorry to hear about the baby!  

Holly,

So sorry to hear of your loss. What a shame:-(
I know how devestating it is to loose babies.

Take care.

Valerie

  

    Again, Holly, my heart goes out to you in your time of loss.  
    Nancy DC also sends her condolences.
    
    Pat
    

    Re: Nancy DC
    
    I guess Mao has not been found?
    

    
    No, Karen.  Mao is still missing (sigh).
    
    

Re. Holly,

Sorry to hear about your kitten, how sad.  Better luck next time.  Is Kyra 
O.K.?

Laura    
    

    Well, last week I brought Kyra to the vets to check on her kittens to
    be sure that there was no infection in her uterus.  IN the process,
    they also told me how many kittens she has.
    
    I was disappointe to find out that Kyra only has ONE kitten. )-:  But
    hopefully it'll be healthy and I'm REALLY hoping for a show girl.  If
    it's a male, even if it's show quality, it will be sold.
    
    My luck, I'll have an amber eyed white deaf male. )-:  Everything that
    I DON'T want!!!!
    
    Holly
    

    With one kitten, you can often have two things happen.  First, the one
    kitten isn't enough to stimulate the hormones that tell the uterus and
    cervix that it's time to contract and delivery the babies.  Because of
    this the pregnancy runs long, and the mom never goes into labor.
    
    The other thing that can happen, especially if the pregnancy runs long,
    the kitten can become HUGE and the mom can't deliver it by herself. 
    This just happened to us with Laci in January.  Hence the nickname
    "Mondo Baby" for the female kitten that resulted.  She was almost 5
    ounces, 69 days gestation, and had to be delivered by c-section (to the
    tune of $500).
    
    Now for the good news....
    
    This probably won't happen to you.  I just seem to be "blessed" that
    way. ;')
    
    
    Jo

    An amber eyed white deaf male is also a kitty who needs to be loved and
    petted if born... it's not his failure to be as he is!
    
    Nat

    
    Holly, if you do get an amber-eyed white deaf male, please let me know!
    I grew up with a wonderful cat who was all that (except deaf) and have
    always wanted another one just like him :^}
    
    Sandy
    

    RE: .15
    
    Nat, of course if I have an amber eyed white deaf male, he'd be loved
    just as much as I would love any other color/sex.  That is just the
    least desired color/sex.  
    
    RE: Sandy.
    
    If she does have an amber eyed white male, I'll definitely let you
    know.  
    
    RE: Jo
    
    Oh gee, thanks for the encouraging words!  You're all heart!!
    
    Kyra's in her cage today and will be in there while I'm at work for the
    rest of the week.  I don't want to take any chances of her trying to
    have the kittens in a drawer somewhere.  (you KNOW how much she likes
    going into drawers!  If not, check out the "Something they did today"
    note from about 3-4 months ago!)
    
    Holly
    

    My pleasure to be of service!! ;')  
    
    Jo

    Well, it finally happened.  Kyra had her kitten via c-section yesterday
    afternoon at the vet.
    
    She has a HUGE beautiful black and white male.  After he was born, they
    weighed him for me.  He weighed in at 7 ounces!!!  Talk about your
    MONDO babies, Jo!  I think he's got quickie beat!!
    
    She's SUCH a good mom!!  Last night at about 3:30 I got up to check 
    on them and found Kyra in her box with the baby between her front 
    two paws, pulled close to her chest.  
    
    I'm SO excited!! And glad that the ordeal is finally over!
    
    Holly

    WOW!  Seven ounces!!  Congratulations to you and Kyra.  Have you
    decided on a name for him?
    
    Keep us posted on his progress.
    
    Steffi

    No, the baby won't have a name for a while. He's a special baby so he
    has to have JUST the right name!!
    
    Holly