Turkish Van, Turkish Cat
Profile of Turkish Van Cat
The breed of cat Turkish van, without a doubt, is one of the oldest. One of the legends says that these cats appeared near Lake Van, which is near Mount Ararat. And this happened, no less, in the time of the Old Testament Noah.
One of the animals on the ark was a cat. He decided to explore
the expanses around the ark and found the Salt Lake Van, located on the same
plateau as Mount Ararat.
A less romantic legend says that cats arose naturally, in
the area of Lake Van. They grew and developed as a species in the wilderness of
those places, and learned to swim and fish. The modern Van cat carries the
genetic traits of its ancestors, has no fear of water, can swim and enjoy the
water.
Later, these cats were brought to Europe by the Crusaders.
Be that as it may, the breed of the Turkish Van cat belongs to one of the
oldest breeds, and proudly carries this status. Regardless of whether they came
down from Noah's Ark or not, these cats have a number of unique qualities, are
very much appreciated all over the world, and are still found in the natural
environment - near Lake Van. Although - extremely rare.
The modern development of this beautiful breed in European
countries began in the UK in 1955. Two female photographers, Laura Lushington
and Sonya Halliday brought a pair of Van cats from a trip to Istanbul - a male
and a female, with red markings on the head and tail. For four years, they
successfully bred offspring, after which they brought another pair of vans from
Istanbul, and continued what they started.
The breed was officially recognized in England in 1969 under
the name "Turkish cat". Later, the name changed to Turkish Van. The
International Cat Association (TICA) granted the status of Champion of Turkey
to this breed in June 1979.
Characteristics
of the Turkish Van
How do I know if my cat is a Turkish Van?
Adaptability 10/10
Attachment to the
family 10/10
Gaming
activity 10/10
intelligence 10/10
General
health 09/10
Wool
fallout 06/10
Friendliness to
children 09/10
Friendly to dogs 10/10
Love of meows 10/10
Breed
Information of Turkish Van
Country of origin |
Turkey |
Lifetime |
12-17 years |
Size |
medium-large |
Weight |
Cats: up to 7 kg, Cats: 5-6 kg |
Coat type |
longhair |
Color |
white with characteristic colored markings on the head and
tail. |
Lifestyle |
outdoors / indoors |
Turkish van cat price |
400 - 600 $ |
How much does a Turkish Van kitten cost?
what is the description of a Turkish Van cat?
How rare is a Turkish Van cat?
The Turkish Van cat is indeed a special breed. A great love
of water, the ability to swim and hunt both in the water and on land, as well
as an outstanding intellect makes the Vans extremely interesting pets.
These cats are very flexible, muscular, and strong, they are
created for hunting, are able to climb any tree, and rarely have problems
getting down from it. The hind legs are slightly longer than the front ones,
the chest is wide, the developed chest, the ears are medium, the tail is fluffed.
Males are much larger than females. The head is rounded, wedge-shaped, the eyes
are amber or blue.
He will become your loving and affectionate companion, very
intelligent, however, with his own character and view of many issues and events
that surround him. You need to find a common language with the Vans since it
is almost impossible to suppress their character.
What is the personality of the Turkish Van cat?
Are Turkish Vans aggressive?
A distinctive feature of the Vans is very high intelligence, which gives rise to a certain isolation and the ability to deeply perceive all phenomena. The cat draws conclusions, but, as they say, "on his mind." On the other hand, if proper socialization is carried out while the pet is still a kitten, you will be able to form a much more open character.
With other pets, the cat should feel at the top of the
domestic hierarchy. Then he will be calm and satisfied with himself.
These cats like to lie in the water in hot weather, swim
perfectly and love to hunt, so forget about the fish in the open aquarium.
Small pets like guinea pigs, hamsters, parrots, may also not survive the
acquaintance with a hereditary hunter.
On the other hand, the Turkish van is able to show great
love and affection for his family, despite the fact that he will feel
comfortable alone. He is a wonderful climber, loves to climb trees, he is a
flexible and strong cat, he can catch toys on the fly, and show miracles of
agility. Vans normally perceive children if they are not too intrusive, but
guests and unfamiliar people are treated with caution.
This breed is quite wayward and does not like freedom
restrictions. If the cat does not like anything - from stroking and ending with
an abundance of children's attention, he will let you know. Also, pay attention
to his nose - if the cat is angry, the nose turns from pink to red.
Love of water can also cause trouble. A Turkish van can fall
into the toilet, he can learn to open water taps on his own, not to mention the
doors to the bathroom.
Common
diseases in Turkish Van cat
Generally speaking, the Turkish Van breed is distinguished by good health inherited from ancestors. They have an excellent appetite, good immunity, and endurance.
However, there is a slight tendency to hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy. Unlike some other breeds, in vans, the transmission of a
predisposition to this disease by inheritance has not been proven. The life
expectancy of vans is 12-17 years.
How to take care of a Turkish Van cat?
Nature itself has adapted these cats to swimming since they
do not have an undercoat. This greatly simplifies the care, and it is not even
necessary to use a rough metal brush. Ordinary, plastic will also do, with its
help once a week you can remove dead villi. The coat falls out weakly, in
spring and autumn, during the period of renewal of the cover.
Usually, a Turkish van takes a shampoo bath at least once a
month, but you should ensure your pet has access to water. It can be a simple
bath with toys, without shampoo. Moreover, it is quite possible that this will
have to be done often.
Claws are trimmed at least once every two weeks, ears need
to be checked every week, and teeth should be brushed every day. The tray
should be kept clean; the vans are very demanding in this matter.