Turkish Van

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.

The need-to-know

Highly active and inquisitive cat
Sociable and dependent cat
Quiet cat

Larger stockier cat breed
Requires grooming every day
Non hypoallergenic breed

Needs some out-door space
May require familiarisation before living with children

Previous Next

1 of 1

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. Turkish Van cats have soft voices.

Previous Next

Turkish Van cat is sitting in the garden

1 of 1

History and Origins

Country of Origin: Turkey

Other Names: Turkish Swimming Cat

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.

Health and Common Issues

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 and Feeding

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

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.

Best Cat Breeds for Children

While this breed is not widely recognised as one of the best breeds for children, all cats are different and with the proper familiarisation may still be able to live with children.

Ginger kitten sitting on woman's shoulder

Kitten advice

Everything you need to know

Getting a new kitten is incredibly exciting for all the family, but it can be quite scary for your new arrival. Find out how to deal with everything from behaviour to health questions with our expert kitten advice.

Learn more

Cat Articles

Cat facts you need to know

With many households in Singapore owning a cat, there's still so much that we don't know about them. From the speed cats can run, to how close they are genetically to tigers, we bet you haven't heard some of these fun facts!

Learn more