Turkish Van Cat

The Turkish Van cat is a large, muscular yet elegant breed with a white body and
distinctively coloured head and tail. These cats are well balanced and strong in
appearance. The large ears are set high on the head and the eyes are large, oval and
expressive. The Turkish Van cat's coat is long, soft and silky with no woolly undercoat.
The paws are tufted and the tail has a full brush. The body of The Turkish Van cat is
predominately chalk white with coloured markings on top of the head. The colouring
on the head is separated by a vertical white blaze. Occasionally small thumbprints of
colour appear on the body. The eyes may be amber or blue or one of each.

Origin
The most amazing characteristic of the Turkish Van cat is its affinity with water. It
not only likes water but also seems to enjoy a swim. The breed originates from the
area surrounding Lake Van in Turkey and has been domesticated there for hundreds of
years. In the 1950s a pair of Turkish Van cats were brought back to Britain by a
holidaying couple and they began to breed these distinctively marked cats in the UK.

Country Of Origin
Turkey

Other Names
Turkish Swimming Cat

Personality
Turkish Van cats are extremely intelligent and friendly and they make excellent
companions. They are lively cats and will enjoy playing games with humans or other
cats and so they need stimluaton and a chance to play. Turki sh Van cats have soft
voices.
 Health
At present there are no diseases specifically linked to this breed. As with all cats, the
Turkish Van breed needs vaccinations, parasite control and annual veterinary health
checks.

Nutrition
Every cat is unique and each has their own particular likes, dislikes, and needs when
it comes to food. However, cats are carnivores and every cat must obtain 41 different
and specific nutrients from their food. The proportion of these nutrients will vary
depending on age, lifestyle and overall health, so it's not surprising that a growing,
energetic kitten needs a different balance of nutrients in her diet than a less active
senior cat. Other considerations to bear in mind are feeding the right quantity of
food to maintain 'ideal body condition' in accordance with feeding guidelines and
catering to individual preference regarding wet or dry food recipes.

Grooming
Turkish Van cats do require regular grooming to keep their beautiful silky coat tangle
free; it is best to do this on a daily basis as this avoids major tangles and matts. If
grooming with a comb and brush is introduced at an early age th e cat will soon
become used to it and many potential problems will be avoided.