Felis catus
Anatolian
Featured photoanatolian.jpgThe Anatolian (also called the Turkish Shorthair) is a natural breed indigenous to the Anatolian peninsula of Turkey, where it has lived for centuries as a regional working cat. The breed is distinct from the Turkish Van and Turkish Angora — both of which originate from specific Turkish regions — and represents the broader Anatolian working-cat population. WCF recognized the Anatolian in 2007. CFA, TICA, GCCF, and FIFe have not published separate Anatolian standards. The standard describes a medium-sized, athletic, short-coated cat in any colour and pattern.
Quick facts
- Origin country
- Turkey (Anatolian peninsula)
- Origin period
- Natural Turkish working-cat breed; WCF recognition 2007 (distinct from Turkish Van and Turkish Angora)
- Coat type
- Short
- Coat colors
- All colours and patterns recognized including solid, tabby, bicolour, tortoiseshell
- Size category
- Medium
- Average lifespan
- 15-18 years
- Recognition
- —
Origin
The Anatolian is a natural breed indigenous to the Anatolian peninsula of Turkey, where shorthaired cats have lived for centuries as regional working cats. The breed represents the broader Anatolian shorthair population — distinct from the long-haired Turkish Van of the Lake Van region and the long-haired Turkish Angora of the Ankara region. Modern formal documentation of the Anatolian as a distinct shorthair breed began in the 1990s, primarily through Turkish and German breed clubs.
Recognition
The World Cat Federation recognized the Anatolian in 2007. Some WCF affiliates refer to the breed as the Turkish Shorthair. CFA, TICA, GCCF, and FIFe have not published separate Anatolian standards. The breed is shown primarily through WCF-affiliated bodies in Turkey and Germany.
Standard
The WCF standard describes a medium-sized, athletic, well-muscled cat with a moderate semi-foreign body type. The head is medium-sized with a slightly rounded forehead and well-defined muzzle. The coat is short, fine, and lies close to the body without a pronounced undercoat. All colours and patterns are recognized including the solid white, bicolour, tabby, and tortoiseshell variants common in the Anatolian working-cat population.
Sources & further reading (3)
- registry-standard — accessed 2026-04-30
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-04-30
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-04-30
Frequently asked questions
How does the Anatolian differ from the Turkish Van and Turkish Angora?
The Anatolian is a shorthair breed representing the broader Anatolian working-cat population. The Turkish Van originates specifically from the Lake Van region and is a large semi-longhaired breed defined by the Van pattern. The Turkish Angora originates specifically from the Ankara region and is a fine-boned long-haired breed. All three are recognized as distinct natural Turkish breeds.
When was the Anatolian recognized?
WCF recognized the Anatolian in 2007. CFA, TICA, GCCF, and FIFe have not published separate Anatolian standards.
Is the Anatolian the same as the Turkish Shorthair?
In WCF documentation, Anatolian and Turkish Shorthair are alternative names for the same breed. WCF prefers the name Anatolian to distinguish the breed from related regional Turkish populations and to emphasize the Anatolian peninsula origin.
