Turkish Van

Turkish Van

An Angora cat from the wintry region of Turkey’s Lake Van, the Turkish Van was first imported into Great Britain in 1955 but was not given official recognition until 1969. It has not yet been recognized in the United States.

Those members of this breed that have not been born or raised near water generally enjoy swimming to an uncatlike degree. They can be quite good at it. As might be expected, they are easy to bathe.

The Turkish Van has been a house cat for many centuries, and as a result, is affectionate towards the entire family. It will, however, select its own favorites, often individuals who share its peaceful nature. The breed is extremely intelligent but prone to be less active and thus less demonstrative of that intelligence. Indoor life, with access to a small garden, suits the cat just fine.

There are only two varieties of Turkish Van. The fur is usually white with chestnut red patches between the eyes and ears on the tail, where the color alternates in light and darker rings.

The body is muscular, full, and long, but of delicate bone structure. The legs appear thicker than they are because of the heavy fur, and the feet are small and round.

Turkish Vans have a triangular face that appears framed by wide expanses of fur. The nose is long, the chin is flat and strong, and the eyes are small, rounded, and close-set. Ears are large, rounded, tufted, and pink on the inside.

Common standard faults include underdeveloped musculature, a truly round head, and markings on the body beyond those described above.

Daily brushing with a soft-bristle brush is recommended, as is periodic bathing. Meat is the staple of the diet, but the Turkish Van is not at all finicky.

To guard against a nervous nature in any individual Turkish Van, the cat must be handled gently but regularly from infancy. It is not a prolific breed, generally having litters of about four kittens.

See more: Ragdoll Cats