The Turkish Van is a native, very rare breed of semi-longhaired cats with a distinctive coloring: only the top of the head and the tail are colored on its snow-white body. This breed is also called the “swimming cat.” Its cashmere-like, water-resistant coat helps it enjoy swimming and playing in water.
Breed History
Van cats come from the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey. This natural breed has existed since the Middle Ages, but the rest of the world only discovered it in the mid-1950s.
In 1955, two Englishwomen, Laura Lushington and Sonia Halliday, came to Turkey to photograph local people and sights. There they saw white longhaired cats with red markings on the head and tail. The women liked the unusual cats so much that they were given two kittens. On the way home, they stopped by the water to swim and were very surprised when the kittens followed them in. That’s when Laura and Sonia realized this really was a unique breed and decided to register it officially.
The new breed was first recognized in 1969 and was called the “Turkish cat.” In 1979 in Great Britain, and in 1985 in the US, the name was changed to “Turkish Van” to better distinguish the breed from the Turkish Angora. TICA granted the Turkish Van championship status in 1985, and the CFA in 1994.
Turkish Van Breed Overview
Turkish Van cats are large: females weigh about 9–13 lb, and adult males can weigh about 11–20 lb.
Here’s the TICA breed standard and a detailed description:
- Head: medium to large, broad (especially in males) but also long, a modified wedge with rounded contours and high cheekbones. A slightly rounded forehead and chin. A neat, rounded muzzle with a noticeable but not sharp whisker break;
- Eyes: large, shaped like a walnut or a peach pit, set at a slight slant, slightly drawn out at the corners. The color can be amber, blue, or odd-eyed;
- Ears: large, set high and wide apart, wide at the base; the inner edge of the ear turns slightly outward, while the outer edge points straight up;
- Body: sturdy, long, and large, especially in males, with a slightly short, muscular neck, a full, rounded chest, and well-developed muscles. No overly straight lines or angles. Broad shoulders, with the body narrowing slightly toward strong hips;
- Legs: medium length, with the hind legs slightly longer, and neat paw pads with tufts between the toes;
- Tail: brush- or plume-shaped, medium length in proportion to the body, with fur at least 2 inches long in adult Vans;
- Coat: semi-long, with no undercoat. Because of the climate in the Turkish Van’s homeland, the coat is usually shorter and a bit coarser in summer, staying long on the belly and “britches.” In winter, the coat gets thicker and longer all over the body except the head. A full ruff and tail are a must. The coat feels soft, like cashmere, and is water-resistant.
Personality
According to owners, these are smart, loyal, loving, and affectionate cats. At the same time, they’re very active. Thanks to their strong legs, Turkish Vans can climb to the highest heights. A Van loves to pick a comfortable spot somewhere on top of a bookcase, where it can survey all its domain.
Turkish Van kittens are very playful. And that childlike spontaneity and energy stay with them as adults. These cats catch toys in midair, tumble, and run around in leaps and bounds. And all of this can happen in water: Van cats love to swim. They’re also natural-born hunters.
These are curious, sociable animals. But if you have other pets, the Turkish Van likes to feel superior and to get its owner’s exclusive attention. At the same time, it won’t sit in your lap for long. It will just always be nearby.
Turkish Van Care and Health
The Turkish Van lives about 15 years on average. Overall, these are healthy cats. But there have been cases of various diseases, including the heart disease hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In many breeds this disease is inherited, but in the Turkish Van that hasn’t been observed so far.
This is a very active breed, so if your cat seems tired and lethargic, see a vet. You can keep a Turkish Van in good shape with a complete diet rich in protein.
The coat of this breed makes caring for it very easy. Van cats have no undercoat, so brushing once a week is enough. They also need baths only rarely, unless they want to splash around themselves. Clean the ears as they get dirty.
To prevent periodontal disease, brush your cat’s teeth. Weekly is best, but once a month is OK too. If you can’t, have your vet do it.
Keep your cat’s litter box clean. That way, the Turkish Van’s long coat won’t get soiled.
Color
Colored markings on a snow-white background are the Turkish Van’s main distinguishing feature. They can be any traditional color or pattern (tabby, for example). Flecks of white are allowed on the markings and the tip of the tail. The colored areas cover the head and tail, but no more than 20% of the coat. With a tabby pattern, the tail should be “ringed” with stripes, with the color brighter on top.
Sometimes there’s also a small colored mark on the cat’s left shoulder. According to Turkish legend, it was left by Allah himself when he blessed the cat for fighting the mouse the Devil had sent to gnaw a hole in Noah’s Ark.
The most common marking colors are red, cream, black, blue, and tortie. Some standards also allow an all-white Turkish Van, the so-called “Van Kedisi”: these cats have no colored markings or patterns at all.
The nose and paw pads of all these cats are usually pink.
The Bottom Line
A cat squared: that’s the formula for the Turkish Van’s personality. Is it gentle? Yes! Devoted? Yes! Smart? Yes, yes, yes! Now in more detail.
Some owners of this breed suspect that a dog’s soul hides under the cat’s looks: these cats easily walk on a leash, follow their owner everywhere, and get along great with dogs! They’re also good friends with children and aquarium fish.
It’s a joy to give this cat presents: the Turkish Van adores toys and is thrilled with every store-bought mouse or ball. Its voice has several tones, and all of them are pleasant to the human ear. Cats of this breed don’t like sitting in people’s arms, but climbing onto your neck is their favorite thing.
It’s often written that the Turkish Van is a swimming breed, but to be fair, love of water is an individual trait, and not every cat has it (but just in case, always keep the toilet lid down!).
Turkish Van Owner Reviews
Irina: “My Mercutio is a true aristocrat. He’ll keep ‘burying’ his business in the litter box at any hour of the day or night until I clean it up and wash the box. Mercutio won’t eat food that’s been sitting in the bowl even a little while. I have to throw it out and put down the same, but ‘new,’ food. He also doesn’t like strangers petting him, and afterward he makes a show of washing himself in front of everyone. But really I see only one flaw in him: a booming voice and a love of yowling. At 5 a.m., that, let’s say, bothers me.”
Semyon: “I have a cat and a dog. Sometimes I think my Turkish Van doesn’t even know there’s another animal in the house. At least she’s never once shown she notices the dog and acts as if she’s the one and only. Which, in fact, she is. Everyone who’s seen Marusya says she’s unusually beautiful: a gorgeous coat, a regal bearing… I feed Marusya canned cat food, because she won’t eat dry food, and she’s allergic to natural food: her ears and belly turn red.”
Olesya: “As long as Stepan has lived with me, I’ve been amazed by this cat. I’ve never once heard Stepan growl or hiss, and he’s never once missed the litter box. Stepan is a big glutton; it seems to me he has no ‘full’ button, but so far it hasn’t affected his weight. He’s also a licker like no other. Sometimes I even wake up because Stepan is devotedly licking my ear. By the way, his tongue is very rough, and my ear really suffers.”
How Much Does a Turkish Van Cost?
How much will a Turkish Van kitten cost you? It’s a fairly rare breed, so its price won’t be low. In the US, a Turkish Van kitten from a reputable breeder usually costs about $600–$2,500, and the price goes up depending on sex, looks, and papers.
Where to Buy a Turkish Van Kitten in the US
The main challenge is finding a Turkish Van cattery, since the breed is rare. Start with the breeder directories:
- CFA (Cat Fanciers’ Association) Find a Breeder – https://find-a-breeder.cfa.org/;
- TICA (The International Cat Association) breeder listings – https://tica.org/find-a-cat/find-a-cat-breeder-listings/;
You can also find Turkish Vans in Turkey itself, but you need special permission to take one out of the country. You may also see kittens advertised on classified sites, but then always check reviews of the seller.
