Description

The Turkish Van (pronounced Von) is a large cat breed. The head of the Turkish Van cat has a blunt wedge shape. The ears are straight and high-set, with rounded tips. The nose is typically a light pink colour. The paw pads are a similar delicate pink tone. The Turkish Van has a medium-length tail, covered with fine semi-long hair, which makes it look like a brush.

Look

The fur of the Turkish Van is semi-long. Turkish Vans have silky hair, and completely lack an undercoat. Van cats only shed moderately, which can make them suitable for people with allergies or sensitivities. The Turkish Van’s silky coat needs to be cared for. Comb it out at least twice a week. While the Turkish Van usually sheds only moderately, they may lose more hair as the seasons change; during this time, you may need to comb or brush your cat more often. They have a distinct pattern (named the Van pattern), with a mostly white coat, and a different colour on the head and tail. The eyes are usually blue or amber coloured, though some have odd-coloured eyes. The coloured patches can be almost any colour, but should not resemble the markings of colour-point breeds such as the Siamese. Pure white Vans are accepted by some breed organisations (such as the CFA).

Health

The Turkish Van is generally a healthy breed, but they are prone to:

• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

At KittenGuru.com, we recommend that you buy your kitten from reputable breeders, who use genetic testing and good breeding practices to remove genetic conditions from their breeding lines. KittenGuru.com’s Health Guarantee certifies that all promoted kittens are in good health.

Temperament

Turkish Vans are loyal, intelligent, active, and affectionate. They are generally easy to train, and can be taught to walk on a leash. They are generally peaceful and happy to live with other animals. They are phenomenally patient animals, making them good for families with children. The cat will be patient and happy to play with them.

Living with

One unique quality of the Turkish Van is that these cats love water! The Turkish Van loves to swim and splash about in the water. You can let your Van play in the shower, fill a paddling pool for them, or let them swim in a pool. Be sure to supervise your cat when they are swimming, just in case they get into trouble! By nature, these cats are excellent hunters, and will happily chase rodents, birds, and lizards. Van cats are active, and enjoy active play and walking. Although they can live in apartments, they will appreciate going for walk on the leash.