Turkish Van - Cat Description and Cat Character

This story began in the region of eastern Anatolia in Turkey. It was there that the first representatives of the cat breed appeared, which were later officially recognized as a Turkish van. For many centuries they lived on the shores of Lake Van, enjoying swimming in salt water and enjoying small fish.

But that all changed when journalist Laura Washington arrived from Britain. She not only made interesting reports and photographs about Turkish life and residents, but also drew attention to amazing cats thanks to their unique color: snow-white hair and a contrasting color on the head and tail. It was the year 1955. The woman was delighted with how the kittens splash and play in the water, and she willingly accepted the gift of two kittens. After 4 years, the journalist returned to purchase two more kittens. So European admirers of cats learned that there is an opportunity to decorate the house with an original and friendly pet.

The breed was first officially talked about in 1969, but in those days these cats were recognized as a “Turkish” breed.

The FIFE Association officially recognized the Turkish cat, setting its standards. This event was documented in 1971. However, in order to prevent confusion, since such a breed as the “Turkish Angora cat” already existed, the British in 1979, and in 1985 the Americans began to officially name the indigenous people, who were used to living near Lake Van, as Turkish van.

Distinctive features of a feline resident of Turkey

Representatives of this breed are usually large:

• cats can weigh adults from 4 to 5.5 kg;
• cats - from 6 to 10 kg.

The length, measured from nose to tail, inclusive, is from 85 to 120 cm. The height can be from 35 to 45 cm. The average standard of living of the Van is about 15 years.

Their standard description is as follows:

1. The head size is medium or larger, but mainly in cats it is much larger. In addition, the head is elongated, resembles the shape of a wedge, but with softened, rounded contours. The forehead and chin look the same round. The cheekbones are quite high. The muzzle is very neat. The pinch is pronounced, but not so bright.
2. The eyes are large, wide open. Planted at an angle, noticeably elongated in corners. Many admirers of cats are attracted to the Turkish van precisely by eye color - blue, yellow with an amber tint or with different colors of each eye.
3. The nose should be pink. The same condition, by standard, remains with the paw pads.
4. Ears set high, wide apart. At the base they are wide. There are features here - the inner edge is slightly deployed to the outside, while the outer edge is straight.
5. The neck is strong, with pronounced muscles, short. The shoulders are wide.
6. The body is large and long, well developed physically, cats are especially distinguished by this. The chest is full and round. It is noticeable that in the direction of the pelvis, which is also highly developed, the body begins to gradually narrow. Cats look neat due to the fact that the body has neither too smooth lines, nor angularities.
7. The legs are medium in length, the hind legs are not much, but still longer. Pads contain soft brushes located between the fingers.
8. The tail has an association with a brush or a train. It is quite proportional, of medium length.
9. Wool up to 5 cm long is considered half-length. It is very reminiscent of cashmere, and its unique properties are that the villi are waterproof, therefore, after bathing, the pet quickly becomes dry. No undercoat.Owing to the peculiarities of the natural climate, it turned out that the Vana cat in the summer season has shorter hair, and so that it is protected from the scorching sun, the villi become much tougher. But long hair remains on the stomach and in the “panties” area. When the cold comes, the hair becomes thicker and longer throughout the body, the head does not affect the abundance of hair. A lush collar and tail should be required.

Color

Color can vary very widely: the obligatory presence of white is combined with black or red, blue or cream, etc. There is even a special term - “tortoiseshell-white van color”. The main distinguishing features must be present - these are colored marks that resemble a pattern and are located on a white background.

Standard conditions allow the markings and the tip of the tail to have small white blotches. Part of the color should cover small areas - head and tail - only 20 percent of all wool.

If the pet has such a color as tabby, there is a rule: the tail must have stripes that look much brighter on top. Some cats may have a small colored speck on their left shoulder. On this occasion, there is a belief that the devil really did not like that Noah and his family and animals could survive, and therefore he sent his insidious messenger, an inconspicuous mouse, to the boat to gnaw holes in the ark, and everyone died. But Allah defended them by blessing the Turkish van to fight the enemy. To protect the cat-protector, Allah left a special mark on his shoulder.

The rules of the standard say that a completely white color is acceptable, but in this case there should not be any additional patterns or color marks. This type of color is called by Van Kedisi.

Unspoken apartment leader

Having settled in the house as a pet, a Turkish van very quickly gets used to the new conditions and his owners. Over time, his favorite pastime becomes: to climb to a high place, for example, to a closet, and from there observe with interest everything that happens in the house. Climbing somewhere for the van is not at all problematic, because his paws are strong and strong, even at a very young age.

Kittens are very energetic, almost always cheerful and active, which remains with them at a respectable age. Playing with them is always fun and interesting. Turkish vans are able to cheer up the hosts, grabbing any objects on the fly, can fun tumbling and compete in running. They can also skillfully repeat all these tricks in water at the same professional level.

These animals can skillfully organize hunting, because another pet, smaller, can suffer from the predatory habits of the van. But larger pets can also feel the cat’s cool temper due to the fact that the Turkish representative must always prove his superiority, fighting with all his might for the attention of the owners. Having proved his leadership, the cat will get along well with other animals. This breed is relatively easy to train; it quickly learns to execute commands.

But it is not only physical activity that makes fans of cats, when choosing, stop at this breed. These animals are very smart, and if the owner is depressed, they can sit on their knees or next to them, but more often they are more comfortable climbing on their neck and starting a sincere purring conversation, constantly changing the tone. They like to accompany their hosts around the house and on the street. So that a Turkish van does not get lost in city yards, from an early age he must be accustomed to a leash. This process usually does not cause discontent in the animal. However, violating their personal space, even the owners can get a decent rebuff.

A particular joy in a pet is a trip to a reservoir.Here, the cat splashes from the heart, performs somersaults and can even catch a small fish.

Disease and Nutrition

Turkish vans have excellent health. But some diseases are still susceptible. First of all, the danger is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This disease is caused by pathologies that occur in the heart. It is believed that the disease in animals is inherited.

The health status of the pet must be monitored constantly. Since this breed is distinguished by its cheerful disposition and great activity, in the case when the animal has become sluggish and sad, does not rise from its place, it is necessary to show it to the veterinarian.

To maintain Turkish van's excellent health, you will need a balanced diet. In the diet should be present foods with high amounts of proteins and carbohydrates. Cats eat dry food with pleasure, but when choosing it, it is better to give preference to the premium class - this is where the main nutrients are collected. When choosing food for small vans, it is advisable to buy those that indicate that they are intended for active animals.

Be sure the van needs fresh fish. And remember that an improper diet or overeating can cause allergic reactions.

Care specifics

1. Due to the fact that there is no undercoat from Turkish vans, grooming is greatly simplified, and they need to be combed about once every 7 days. But when the molting period comes, the task gets complicated. In this short time, you need to pay attention to the wool 3-4 times a week to remove the fallen fibers as quickly as possible.
2. Frequent bathing is not recommended because the coat has the ability to clean itself. But, if the pet wanted to swim on its own, nothing will stop him, therefore it is advisable to keep the toilet lid in the house closed. During water procedures, the owner should allow the van to buy plenty.
3. Ears should be treated as they become dirty, and it is advisable to brush your teeth periodically.
4. To keep the white coat clean and fresh, you need to clean the tray constantly.

A cat from the shore of Van needs vaccinations!

In order to avoid dangerous diseases that are fatal to a cat’s pet, they should be vaccinated for the first time after 12 weeks of age. What kind of vaccine is needed - the veterinarian will tell you, but in the future you need to use the same drug, without going beyond the time prescribed by the veterinarian. Before each vaccination, deworming is necessary.

Difficulty in acquiring

Therefore, if there is an offer that it is possible to buy a purebred van, you need to check the documents and the pedigree passport, be sure to compare the standard conditions of the breed. Only after making sure that the kitten meets the standards, and you need to take into account the physical development, you can make a purchase. A real van costs from 30 thousand rubles. up to several thousand euros.

For breeding, it is advisable to choose a worthy couple in order to successfully continue the genus of this beautiful breed, which began to exist at the distant Lake Van. Before this, it is desirable to cleanse the body of the pet from worms.

Video: Turkish van breed cat