The Turkish Van cat takes its name from the place where it was born and raised — the semi-abandoned lands along the shores of Lake Van in Turkey, at the foot of Mount Ararat. Not by chance, it is also known as the Lake Van cat. Through stories and legends, we explore the origins of the Turkish cat and learn more about the physical and personality traits that make the Turkish Van cat so unique.
Origins and history of the Turkish Van cat
Piecing together the ancient history of the Turkish Van cat is no easy task, especially because it overlaps and intertwines with that of the Turkish Angora cat — in their country of origin, there is no clear distinction between the two breeds. What we do know is that in 1955, two curious English women named Laura Lushington and Sonia Halliday took a pleasure trip to Turkey, drawn by the local feline population, which closely resembled the by-then elusive Angora cat.
After discovering the first specimens of what would eventually become the Turkish Van cat, they requested and were given a pair of cats to take home with them. What had caught the two women's attention were the two markings on the forehead and the coloured tail that both cats shared. Once the cats were bred, it became clear that the kittens carried the very same genes as their parents — including the amber-coloured eyes — making it evident that they were dealing with a naturally occurring breed. During several further trips to Turkey to bring back new specimens, Laura Lushington noticed another detail that would later become the hallmark of this breed's fame. Unlike almost all other cat breeds, this one had absolutely no fear of water.
In 1969, the GCCF recognised the Turkish Van breed in its red colouring; in the USA, and later throughout the rest of the world, recognition came only in 1980. For those who wish to believe the legends, the Turkish Van cat is in fact a Turkish Angora cat that escaped Noah's Ark during the Great Flood and was saved from the waters by the hands of Allah, who is said to have left his marks on the head and tail of the snow-white cat. This is why, in Turkey, it is also known as the cat of Allah.
Turkish Van cat breed standard
The Turkish Van cat breed standard relates exclusively to its colouring. The coat must be pure white, with no streaks or splashes of colour, with the exception of the tail and two small markings on the forehead — separated by a white stripe — which must not cover the cat's eyes or ears in any way. The build is medium to large; an adult male weighs approximately 8–9 kg, while females are noticeably smaller, yet still well-built. The musculature is very well developed across the entire body; the legs are fairly long and sturdy, and the paws are rounded with small tufts of fur between the paw pads.
The cat's tail is long and very full, and the strong, well-structured neck supports a fairly large, wedge-shaped head. The eyes are large, oval and slightly slanted, coloured blue or amber, or mismatched between the two colours. The ears are not overly large, sit upright on either side of the head, are always white on the outside and pink on the inside. The coat is medium length and very dense, with no undercoat, and is strictly white; the markings may be solid or tabby-patterned, usually in shades of red, though they can also be black or blue. A fully white variant of the Turkish Van cat exists, known as the Vankedisi, but it has not yet been recognised in Europe.
Caring for the Turkish Van cat: diet and nutrition
The Turkish Van cat requires no special care thanks to its robust build; however, its coat should be brushed very frequently — especially during shedding season — to prevent the cat from ingesting too much fur. The cat's diet should be varied and well balanced; the Van cat does not tend towards obesity.
Turkish Van cat personality
The Turkish Van cat does not suit every personality — it is extremely active and playful, and is constantly on the move. It bonds with a single owner, whom it adores wholeheartedly and with whom it needs to interact constantly; it accepts all other members of the household willingly, but without showing them any particular affection. It is very well suited to life as an indoor cat, provided it has access to a nice garden. The Van cat has the distinctive trait of having absolutely no fear of water; although it is not one of its favourite pastimes, it will not hesitate to plunge into water in pursuit of prey during a hunt.
It tolerates other pets well, as long as they allow it to be the dominant one — which is perhaps why it may not be the ideal breed to play with young children. The Turkish Van cat is afraid of nothing and no one; it has a very proud character and reserves its displays of affection exclusively for its one special owner.
Breeding the Turkish Van cat
Turkish Van kittens are beautiful, even though from an early age their coat has not yet developed the distinctive, definitive colouring that sets them apart. From a young age, the Turkish cat is very cheerful, with a sunny and sociable nature that makes it instantly likeable. To thrive, it needs mentally stimulating cat toys that keep its mind active, preventing boredom and apathy from setting in. In Italy, there are no breeders that specialise specifically in the Turkish Van, which is all the more reason to be careful when making a purchase. It is preferable to turn to a breeder abroad rather than buying from private sellers online — especially given that the price of a Turkish Van is far from negligible.
