Bizans Turkish Angoras - About Us

Some of our babies are TV stars!  At the time they were filmed, they were owned by and filmed at our mentor's, Barb Azan's, house in the autumn of 2008 for Animal Planet's Cats-101 segment on Turkish Angoras.  Hers are the ones you see in which a medium-blue, patterned slipcover is in the background, one in an oddly shaped window with trees blowing in the background, a smoke-colored one in close-up, a white one asleep on a blue patched quilt, and several color ones playing in front of a cat tree.  You can learn a lot about Turkish Angoras from the program, but ask questions about it when you speak with a breeder.

I became acquainted with this breathtakingly beautiful breed of cat when I lived in Ankara, Turkey, and worked at the American Embassy from 1973 to 1975.  I can honestly say it was the best two and a half years of my life!  After visiting one of the Turkish people's national treasures, their white Turkish Angoras (aka TAs) at the Ankara Zoo and more on Princes' Island off the coast of Istanbul, I added them to the l-o-n-g list of what I love about the country.  I inquired (and even pleaded a little) but learned it was impossible for me to obtain one -- or two -- TAs from the Zoo. 

As bowled over as I was by their huge plume tails, beautiful ruffs around their necks, and their adorable britches (longer fur on the backs of their hind legs), what I was totally charmed about the Turkish Angora cat is the role they play in the country's history and traditions.  Many TA breeders know a bit of the folklore about the Turkish Angora, but they don't know how reverently it is held (and was evident every day) by many of the men in villages and Ulus, the ancient fort portion of Ankara -- then Angora:  The way I remember it is that Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey, is expected to send -- or himself return as -- a white Turkish Angora cat with one blue eye and one green eye and bite the heel of the next great leader of the country. 

Now, the next part is unknown to most TA breeders:  For the longest time I couldn't understand why the men wrecked their perfectly good shoes -- they bent the backs forward and walked on them under their heels, virtually turning the shoes into slippers.  Finally I was informed and instantly enchanted:  Those men (because, of course, it could only be a man!), ready to be of service to their national hero, faithfully expose their heels, inviting the bite of that one special odd-eyed white cat    --    just    in    case    they  are  Ataturk's Chosen One! 

So, of course, I just had to have an odd-eyed white Turkish Angora!

I finally bought her from Debbi Dudley of Duman Turkish Angoras in 1987, and I learned what an intelligent, affectionate, playful, healthy, and long-lived breed they are.  My Ayshe was just what I dreamed of to honor the tradition about Ataturk and remind me of my wonderful time in Turkey.  She was a beautiful odd-eyed white girl, and she was the love of my life for nearly 19 years.  (Didn't I say they are long-lived?) 

Ken and I met in 1996 through his cousin Jenny, who was my dear friend 15 years before when I worked in the Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (East Africa).  (Jenny was a teacher in the International School.)  Ken and I married in 2000.  He was a bit jealous of the devotion Ayshe showed me (hey, she'd been with me for nearly 10 years!) so over several months' time we fostered about 30 rescue mom-cats and kittens before settling down with our two beloved girls, Fraley, a long-haired tuxedo, and Swiz, a short-haired tortie bicolor.  They are now 11 years old.

When Ayshe died in September 2006, Ken researched online and put me in touch with Barbara Azan, of Azima Turkish Angoras, as she had been breeding TAs, by that time, 37 years -- longer than anyone in the world.  In a few days I found myself in Pennsylvania sitting on Barb's living room floor being climbed and loved on by a host of stunningly beautiful Turkish Angoras, and Barb and I quickly became good friends.  And Barb was right:  as enamored as I was of odd-eyed whites, I would and did fall equally head-over-heels in love with the color versions of the Turkish Angoras.  There are so many, and they all have their charms and looks -- some of which change over time, rather like a kaleidoscope in slow motion! 

We got Kiri with the intention of breeding her and having her forever as my "heart cat" and perhaps becoming full-fledged breeders "someday."  I asked Barb to begin mentoring Ken and me, and we had a few small litters, first with Barb's cat, then Kiri, and then with cats we co-owned with Barb.  I attended several cat shows with her and visited other catteries.  Tragically, that "someday" of becoming serious breeders came much sooner than we could have anticipated as Barb's health deteriorated and she passed away from complications from kidney failure November 17, 2008, entrusting to me the awesome (in the old sense of the word) responsibility of caring for her beloved cats and her bloodline -- indeed, her life's work. 

I knew the breed is rare, but in the next few days I learned of the diminishing gene pool of Turkish Angoras, especially here in the U.S.  So to honor Barb and the treasure she had left in my hands, and hoping to preserve and contribute to the gene health of Turkish Angoras, Ken and I carefully deliberated and committed ourselves full time to continuing Barb's bloodline, a commitment we share with the breeders who now also have some of Barb's beautiful cats.  Ken and I consider our having Barb's cats a sacred trust, and we accept the responsibility humbly, soberly, and wholeheartedly.  We want to do whatever we can to work with other breeders to benefit the breed and to share with pet owners the wealth of love, devotion, and affection that these extraordinary, beautiful cats shower on their people.

The first word she always used to describe her cats was "elegant."  She wanted her cats to be beautiful, sleek, tall, long, and lean -- refined; have big, bright eyes, large ears set close together and high on the head; the profile to have two distinct planes, no dip in the nose or domed forehead.  Of equal importance to Barb was temperament.  I suspect that there is a "love gene," and Barb worked hard to see that her cats got it in spades!  Her cats were known to be SUPER sweet, VERY intelligent, playful, even clown-like at times, and the very definition of the word "affectionate."  

Ken and I have our work cut out for us to keep these traits going strong as we outcross for a healthy gene pool, but we will give our utmost to do just that -- for Barb and the future of these elegant creatures.

Here I get to thank, from the bottom of my heart:

Barbara E. Azan, Azima Turkish Angoras, my beloved mentor, for her generosity of spirit, wit, wisdom, and experience and for entrusting to me her precious babies.

Barb's sisters, Nancy Chizik and Judy Kudzin, for supporting me in carrying out Barb's wishes and for facilitating all the legalities necessary to transfer to me everything related to Barb's cats.

Kit Goodwin, Antioch Turkish Angoras and Savannahs, for accepting Barb's request to help me with the daunting tasks of placing several of Barb's cats to trusted breeders; transferring registrations, registering new litters and cats; becoming my new mentor, spending the COUNTLESS hours of instruction and advice about breeding and showing -- these most serious parts of the cat fancy; and most importantly for her friendship.

Karen Delmont, HylanderClan Turkish Angoras, for the bond we share that began when she sent me the new light of my life, my beautiful Kiri, after Ayshe died; strengthened during trips to Barb's and helping me with my first TICA show that Barb was too ill to attend; and deepened through the events surrounding Barb's death and to today.  We both still grieve.

Kathryn Amann, of KatsNjazz Cattery, for offering at the very beginning of our cattery the most stunning green-gold-eyed white boy to be our foundation male, for her generosity, for continuing with fantastic advice and suggestions on showing our cats, and for becoming my friend.  I can't believe we have yet to meet in person!

Charmaine Keller, Blue Skies Creative Group, a client of Barb's and now a friend of mine, for designing our logo and starting a new, complete, beautiful website (both soon to be unveiled); handling our advertising for us (all of which are in process); and for taking on the project of turning Barb's Azima website into a memorial and library (after our permanent website is up).

Janet Booth, of CFA, for her sensitivity and compassionate yet pragmatic instruction and assistance beginning November 17, 2008, to keep all of Barb's cats "legal," and her patience in personally handling CFA litter and cat registrations ever since.

Meghan Ingram, MaviMagic Turkish Angoras, for her fresh, enthusiastic dedication to this breed, her friendship and advice as a veterinary technician, and for helping me set up this temporary website.

And thank you to all of the other new friends I've made since Barb died.  Some saw me through the sad times, others are turning all of this "show business" from a necessary evil into something that is (slowly) becoming downright fun!