Turkish Van

The Turkish Van is a type of cat that loves water. It derives its name from the Lake Van region in Eastern Turkey. The cat was originally called the Turkish Cat. It is still called so in Britain. The aim of changing its name was to differentiate it from the Turkish Angora cat, which originated from the region in and around Ankara in Central Turkey. They have cashmere like coat and are large, strong, and agile. The Turkish Van elsewhere in Turkey is characterized by the color being restricted to the head and tail and the body being very white.

There are two accepted breeds of cats in Turkey and this is one of them. These cats are unique in their coloring and they are highly prized by the Turks. They like water, which is a characteristic not commonly found in cats. No wonder, they are nick-named swimming cats. They have not only been found to play in water but they have also been found to enter ponds and even horse troughs for a swim. These cats are known to be intelligent and curious. The natives of Turkey to which country these cats belong are believed to prize these cats for their exceptional character and coloring. These cats are well worth keeping at home. They are very adaptable to different types of environment. The cats also have a good level of intelligence.

In the USA, the International Cat Association accepted Turkish Van cats for championship status in 1979. The Cat Financers Association did so in 1994.There are extreme temperatures in the Lake Van region. The climate in Turkey has designed the cat’s fur. The region where it comes from is mountainous and the semi longhaired, water resistant coat is a specialty. The coat is very soft like the fur of the rabbits. When the Turkish Van cat is mature, it has a winter mane. When Turkey is very hot in the spring and summer months the coat is shed to give place to a shorthaired coat. But the soft feel remains intact.

The Turkish Van is called the Swimming Cat. Its body is adapted to swimming and it is generally a large cat. The male Turkish Van is big bodied and is called the football player of the cat world. The cats are broad shouldered and they are equipped for swimming. The hind legs are slightly longer than the front legs and aid in swimming. The Turkish Vans are intelligent and they thrive in the company of people. They are playful creatures and they like to play and explore things. People say this cat is the only type of domestic cat whose shoulders cannot pass through a fence as the shoulders are very broad They are also called ‘dogs in a cat suit’ as they fetch the thing that is far away and they exhibit the characteristics of a dog. Turkish Van is a naturally occurring breed of cats. The different varieties of the Turkish Van are the Red Tabby, Cream and Tortie, and White.