 Turkish
Van Cat
Although the Turkish Van is
an ancient breed, it is a relative newcomer to the United States. The first
Van cats (named after the Lake Van region of Turkey) were imported to England
in the 1950s, but the first Turkish Van did not arrive in the U.S. until
1982. Imports from Turkey are still accepted into breeding programs, although
imports are quite rare as these cats are considered national treasures
in their native land.
The Turkish Van is a semi-longhaired
cat distinguished by its unusual pattern: the cat is white except for a
colored tail and color on the head. (This is called the "Van" pattern,
and is seen in other breeds as well). Show cats should not have color on
more than 20% of their bodies. The most sought-after markings for show
are restricted to the head and tail alone. Some small body spots are tolerated,
but not most desirable. They can be found with blue, gold, or odd-eyes.
(Odd-eyed means one gold eye and one blue eye).
Vans are very independent,
but affectionate. They tend to bond strongly to one or two people in a
family. They are social and remain active well into old age. They are inconsistent
travellers; some travel well, but others are prone to serious carsickness.
Although they share the word
"Turkish" in their name, the Turkish Van and the Turkish Angora are completely
different cats. Angoras are lithe, with silky fur, and the Turkish Vans
are more heavily built with a plush coat.
Interesting fact:
Many Turkish Vans are fond of water and swimming. In their native Turkey
near Lake Van, they can often be found swimming in warm, shallow pools.
Owners of Turkish Vans must be careful about allowing unsupervised access
to water, including baths and toilets! Even Vans who don't enjoy swimming
are nonetheless fascinated by water, well known for 'bathing' toys in water
dishes and playing in dripping faucets. Some even learn to turn on faucets
for more playtime fun.
Associations: The Turkish
Van is accepted by most major cat registries.
Provided with permission
of Barbara French, Copyright © 2005 Fanciers Breeder Referral List
Breedlist.com
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