What Kind Of Cat Is The Turkish Van?
February 2, 2021
Just one look at those sparkling blue-green eyes and you’ll see right away the mischievousness and playful nature of the Turkish Van.
The Turkish Van has a beautifully long and lustrous coat that is as soft as cashmere, doesn’t shed much and is surprisingly easy to manage. Only weekly groomings are necessary. The Turkish van is predominantly white with a coloured tail and head and sometimes a unique thumbprint marking between the shoulders. This is said to be the thumbprint of God and considered good luck.
A rare and ancient breed, the Turkish Van grew up in the regions of eastern Turkey, and spread into the neighbouring areas of central and southwest Asia into Iran, Iraq and southwest Soviet Union. This part of the world is known collectively as Van and includes a Lake by the same name. You can see where the Van Cat gets their name and they are considered a national treasure.
The Van Cat is a fairly large and agile cat with fine musculature and a long, graceful body. They take three to five years to fully mature and can reach weights of 7 to 18 lb. Healthy cats live an average of 12 to 18 years of age.
Also known as the Swimming Cat, the Van’s beautiful cashmere coat is waterproof so they can fully indulge in their love of water. It’s not unusual to find the Van enjoying a swim or just playing with the water. They even love taking a dunk and going for a swim. So don’t be surprised if they jump in the tub with you or they come knocking when you’re in the shower.
This love of water fits well with the curious nature of the Turkish Van. A lively personality and a fun and playful attitude makes living with this cat an adventure every day. They love attention and form strong bonds with their owners, never letting them out of their sight and following them around the house from room to room.
They thrive in households with other pets and children (more love to go round) and love to chase and fetch toys and balls. This active cat does not do well when left alone for long periods of a time. They are extremely social and even though they love attention, they’re not much for cuddling or being picked up.
They were first introduced to England in 1955, but didn’t find their way into the US until 1982. Despite more than 70 years of breeding on this side of the world, the Turkish Van is still pretty rare. If you find one, consider yourself lucky.
You can learn more about the Turkish Van from these sources: