History
The Turkish Van cat is a rare breed that dates back to ancient times. The name is derived from the use of the term "Van" in its countries of origin (Iraq, Iran, and portions of the Soviet Union and Turkey), explains the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA). It's "a common term in the region that has been given to a number of towns, villages and even a lake—Lake Van," says the CFA, "so it is no surprise that the uniquely patterned cat native to the region was named the 'Vancat' by the residents." The Van is not to be confused with the Turkish Angora, which is an entirely separate breed.
Making its home in the mountainous region of central and
southwest Asia, historical records show that the strong and rugged Turkish Van
has been around for nearly five thousand years, with its isolation contributing
to its lengthy lifetime, points out TICA. It is a treasured breed in its
homeland, especially those Vans who have a smallish, colored marking on their
necks, called the "thumbprint of Allah."
It wasn't until the 1950s that the first Turkish Van was brought to Europe by two photographers who were gifted a male and female cat, and it was the late '70s when the breed made its way to the United States. The Van began receiving club recognition in the '80s and '90s, charming its way into the hearts of cat lovers across the globe. Because she is such a rare breed, a Turkish Van cat may be difficult to locate, but not impossible. If you're lucky enough to share a home with such a beloved and treasured furry friend, you'll be rewarded with a playful, energetic and loyal companion.
Breeding
The breeding criteria are very strict: the cat must trace
its ancestry back to Turkey. No other breeds can be mixed in during the
breeding process. For breeds with a relatively small gene pool, professional
breeding is essential to avoid any complications and ensure a robust and
healthy development of the cat.
So, if your head has been turned by the lively character and
silky fur of the Turkish Van, your first trip should be to visit a professional
breeder. The Turkish Van is a rather rare cat, and breeders of this type are
harder to find than, for example, a Maine Coon or Persian cat breeder. It is
often worth asking directly at a breeder’s association. These act as quality
control; gaining entry into this association requires strict standards to be
met, and separates genuine breeders from scammers.
A professional breeder takes personal responsibility for the mother and its offspring. It is not all about profit. When due diligence is given to health provision, healthy food, good conditions, and a thoughtful pairing of parent cats, it becomes clear that breeding cats is an expensive passion.
Personality
Expand Personality content While you might be drawn to the
Van for its fascination with water, you’ll fall in love with this cat for its
other qualities. Vans are energetic, agile, and intelligent. They are extremely
healthy and “get along with people swimmingly,” notes one Van owner.
You may need a few months of working out to keep up with
them, however; Vans are famous for their action-packed temperaments. They are
talkative, demand attention from their humans, and show great gusto at
dinnertime. Vans are known for their deep attachment to their preferred people,
and sometimes that makes transferring a Van from one household to another
difficult. They tend to pick out one or two people in the household, usually
the ones who deal with them initially, and bond with them forever.
Cat water fountains
are a big hit with the Van; sometimes they’ll sit in front of the fountain and
stare in fascination for hours at the trickling water. Many Turkish Van cats
enjoy a dip in the pool, bathtub, sink, in a pinch even the toilet. Van owners
quickly learn to keep the lid down, and must be careful about allowing
unsupervised access to water. Turkish Van kittens can get into particular
trouble with this fascination. Even Vans that don’t enjoy swimming are still
fascinated by water, and will dunk their toys in water dishes and play in
dripping faucets. Some will even learn to turn on faucets; they are very
intelligent cats.
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 the cat will soon become used to it and many
potential problems will be avoided.
Turkish Van Diet
What is a wholesome diet for a cat? What should be in the
food to make sure that your cat stays healthy well into old age? There are so
many brands out there these days, that it can be easy to feel lost when staring
at a big shelf. Whichever one should I take?
Regardless of whether you go for wet or dry food, or which
brand you prefer, make sure that it contains a high amount of natural protein.
As carnivores, cats live predominantly off mice in the wild, sometimes other
rodents and small birds. This natural diet is about 85% meat, and only 5% plant
products, which are found in the prey intestines. This can be decomposed into
about 50-60% protein, 20-30% fat, and 3-8% carbohydrates. Your Turkish Van will
require a diet that is high in protein, moderate in fat content, and very
sparing on the carbohydrates.
So be sure to have a good look at the ingredient list before choosing your cat’s food! Meat should be the first thing on there, and anything to do with plants should really be last! Luckily, there are no shortage of options on the market to give your Turkish Van cat everything it needs to be healthy and strong!
Interesting Facts of Turkish Van
THE TURKISH VAN IS LIKELY AN OLD BREED: Like many cat
breeds, no one quite knows the Turkish Van’s true origins. According to legend,
ancestors of the Turkish Van sailed aboard Noah’s Ark. Once the boat reached
Mount Ararat—a volcanic mountain in eastern Turkey that serves as the Biblical
vessel’s mythical landing place—the cats hopped off and swam for dry land. God
blessed them, and his divine touch caused their white coats to develop their
signature coloration. These cats became the progenitors for the Turkish Van
breed.
In reality, the Turkish Van breed probably developed in
central and southwest Asia. It's believed that the furry cat has lived in
Turkey’s isolated Lake Van region—a mountainous area that’s home to the
country’s largest lake—for generations, thanks to local legends, traditional
folk songs, and ancient artifacts that reference the cat and its unusual
markings. The Turkish Van has reportedly also been spotted in neighboring
countries including Iran, Iraq, and parts of the former Soviet Union.
TURKISH VAN CATS SOMETIMES HAVE ODD-COLORED EYES: Turkish
Van kittens are initially born with pale blue eyes, which change to a deeper
blue or amber as they grow older. Occasionally, you’ll also see a Van with one
amber eye and one blue eye, or two blue eyes of different hues. This unusual
trait stems from the cat’s piebald white spotting gene, which sometimes
prevents melanin, or pigment, from imbuing one eye’s iris with color.
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