The beautiful Turkish Van is distinguished by her chalk-white body and coloured markings on the head and long, plumed tail. This curious feline has powerful hind legs that allow her to jump on otherwise hard-to-reach spaces. The sweet, loving breed likes to be involved in whatever is going on and enjoys curling up on a lap. A slow-maturing breed, the Turkish Van takes three to five years to reach maturity.
DID YOU KNOW? The Turkish Van is a rare, ancient breed that developed in central and Southeast Asia, in areas known today as Iran, Iraq, southwest Soviet Union and eastern Turkey.
The need-to-know
- Playful and curious cat
- Friendly but independent cat
- Somehow talkative cat
- Average build cat breed
- Requires grooming every day
- Outdoor cat
- May require familiarisation before living with children
Personality
Turkish Van cats are extremely intelligent and friendly and they make excellent companions. They are lively cats and will enjoy playing games with humans or other cats and so they need stimluaton and a chance to play. Turkish Van cats have soft voices.
History and Origins
Country of Origin: Turkey
Other Names: : Turkish Swimming Cat
The most amazing characteristic of the Turkish Van cat is its affinity with water. It not only likes water but also seems to enjoy a swim. The breed originates from the area surrounding Lake Van in Turkey and has been domesticated there for hundreds of years. In the 1950s a pair of Turkish Van cats were brought back to Britain by a holidaying couple and they began to breed these distinctively marked cats in the UK.
Nutrition and Feeding
Every cat is unique and each has their own particular likes, dislikes, and needs when it comes to food. However, cats are carnivores and every cat must obtain 41 different and specific nutrients from their food. The proportion of these nutrients will vary depending on age, lifestyle and overall health, so it's not surprising that a growing, energetic kitten needs a different balance of nutrients in her diet than a less active senior cat. Other considerations to bear in mind are feeding the right quantity of food to maintain 'ideal body condition' in accordance with feeding guidelines and catering to individual preference regarding wet or dry food recipes.
Other Information
Health and common issues
At present there are no diseases specifically linked to this breed. As with all cats, the Turkish Van breed needs vaccinations, parasite control and annual veterinary health checks.
Best cat breeds for children
While this breed is not widely recognised as one of the best breeds for children, all cats are different and with the proper familiarisation may still be able to live with children.