Turkish Angoras are one of the ancient, natural breeds of cat, having originated in central Anatolia (Ankara Province in modern-day Turkey).

Like all domestic cats, Turkish Angoras descended from the African wildcat (Felis lybica).

[citation needed] Longhaired cats were imported to Britain and France from Asia Minor, Persia and Russia as early as the late 16th century.

[citation needed] In the early 20th century, Atatürk Forest Farm and Zoo began a breeding program to protect and preserve pure white Angoras.

[citation needed] The Turkish Angora, which was brought to Canada in 1963, was accepted as a championship pedigreed breed in 1973 by the Cat Fanciers' Association.

American "Turkish" Angoras have only a minimal remnant of the original Atatürk Forest Farm and Zoo DNA, and are only "purebred on paper".

[12][self-published source][13][self-published source] A genetic study of pedigree cat breeds (using DNA taken from pedigreed cats in the U.S. and Europe) and worldwide random-bred populations showed the Turkish Van as a distinct population from the Turkish Angora despite their geographical association.

The Turkish Angora was grouped with the pedigreed Egyptian Mau and random-bred Tunisian cats.

The study found that "Turkish-versus USA-originating Turkish Angoras ... are resolved as separate breed populations.