Turkish VanCharacteristics, history, behaviour and care

In 1955, two British photographers, Laura Lushington and Sonia Halliday, were given two unrelated cats in Turkey, white with coloured heads and tails. Lushington took them home, and the kittens looked exactly like their parents, so she began creating a breed. The first female came from Iskenderun, and the male was a gift from a hotel manager in Istanbul; in 1959 cats from Antalya and Burdur were added.

The breed was registered in 1969 by the GCCF under the name “Turkish cat” and renamed “Turkish Van” in 1979, so it would not be confused with the Turkish Angora. Although the name points to Lake Van, Lushington's writings show that none of the founding cats came from the Van area.

How the breed developed

• 1955 – Laura Lushington brings the first two cats from Turkey.
• 1959 – cats from Antalya and Burdur are added.
• 1960 – recognised by FIFe.
• 1969 – recognised by the GCCF as the “Turkish cat”.
• 1979 – renamed “Turkish Van”.
• 1994 – championship status at CFA.

• Active families. It stays energetic and playful into old age.
• Homes with high places. It likes to climb and watch from above.
• People who don't mind splashes of water. It plays with the water in its bowl or in the toilet.
• People who want a “talkative”, attached cat.

It is one of the large breeds: muscular, with a fairly long body and tail, strong, broad shoulders and a short neck; it is called the “athlete” of cats. It reaches maturity at 3–5 years. Males weigh 5–9 kg, and females 3–5 kg.

General appearance

The coat has a single layer, without undercoat, and feels like cashmere or rabbit fur. It is unusually water-resistant, so the cat is hard to wash but dries quickly.

The colour appears only on the head and tail; the rest of the body is white. A few patches on the body are accepted, as long as they cover no more than 20% and the cat does not look bicolour. The classic colour is red tabby and white; there are also cream, black, blue, tabby and tortie. FIFe and CFA accept only cats with the van pattern; all-white cats are considered a separate breed by some associations (Turkish Vankedisi).

Related breeds and how to tell them apart

The Turkish Angora also comes from Turkey, but is a genetically different population and has a finer body. The breed is often confused with the cats of the Lake Van area, which are usually all white, but the link with them is doubtful.

The TICA standard describes it as very intelligent, energetic and playful, and therefore rather mischievous. It likes to climb and sit up high, from where it studies its territory, and it is a very skilled hunter.

German Wikipedia says it is very sociable, possessive, demands attention and is “talkative”, with a loud voice. French Wikipedia adds that it follows its owner everywhere and many learn to fetch.

Socialisation

It demands a lot of attention and is very attached to its owner.

A kitten gets used to new people, noises and other animals most easily in its first months of life.

Habits at home

Like all cats, it sleeps a lot: usually 12–16 hours a day. It is most active early in the morning and in the evening, but partly adapts to the family's routine.

Cats instinctively bury their droppings, so it quickly learns to use a litter tray. It scratches rough surfaces to shed the old outer layer of its claws, so it needs a scratching post or board.

It is muscular and very energetic: it climbs a lot and moves with impressive athleticism. It loves water: it stirs the water in its bowl, plays in the toilet, and some follow their owners into the water.

Tips for a balanced life

• Change its toys from time to time, so it does not get bored.
• Play with it in short sessions, several times a day.
• If it goes outside, let it do so in a fenced area or on a balcony with a safety net.

Coat care

The coat without undercoat is easy to look after, with one brushing a week. When it is brushed, the hair comes out in dense clumps.

Common health problems

Wikipedia says Turkish Vans with the van pattern are not prone to deafness, because their pattern comes from a different gene than solid white. All-white cats from the same line, however, may carry the gene that causes deafness.

Recommended genetic tests

For all-white cats a hearing test (BAER) is recommended; some associations require it for registration.

Is it hypoallergenic?

Cat allergy is caused mainly by the Fel d 1 protein, found in saliva and skin glands; it is behind the allergy in 90% of people who are allergic to cats. Kittens, females and neutered males produce less of it, but still enough to trigger symptoms. No breed is completely hypoallergenic.

Other care

• A check-up at the vet once a year.
• Vaccinations and parasite treatment on the schedule set by the vet.
• Trim the claws if they do not wear down on their own.
• Clean its teeth or give it food that helps keep them clean.

The cat is a carnivore: it needs animal protein. Unlike a dog, it must get vitamin A, arachidonic acid and taurine from its food. Water is very important, because cats usually drink little; several water bowls around the house encourage it to drink.

Tips for a healthy diet

The table gives a starting estimate, calculated with the formula from the Merck Veterinary Manual for a healthy adult cat. The last column shows what this means in dry food with 3,500–4,000 kcal per kilogram. If you also feed wet food, reduce the dry portion.

• Adjust the portion to its weight: neutered cats put on weight easily.
• Weigh it monthly; the ribs should be easy to feel under your fingers.
• Kittens need more calories: Merck recommends 2.5 times the resting energy requirement.

Dangerous foods and substances

Some common household items are dangerous for cats:

• Lilies (and daylilies): they can destroy a cat's kidneys. Even the pollen or the water in the vase is dangerous.
• Paracetamol: extremely toxic to cats, which lack the enzyme that breaks it down. Never give it human medicines.
• Flea spot-ons and collars for dogs containing permethrin: the concentration meant for dogs is dangerous for cats.
• Foods: chocolate, coffee, alcohol, onions, garlic, grapes and raisins.

Maturity

Females usually reach sexual maturity at 5–10 months, and males at 5–7 months. The age varies from breed to breed.

Mating and pregnancy

Pregnancy in cats lasts 64–67 days, 65 on average. A first litter usually has fewer kittens than later ones. Only healthy cats that match the breed standard are used for breeding.

Blood type

Cats have blood type A, B or AB. Type A is the most common: in a study from England, 87.1% of non-pedigree cats and 54.6% of pedigree cats had type A. This matters for breeding: if the mother is type B and the kittens are type A, the antibodies in her first milk (colostrum) can destroy their red blood cells. The condition is called neonatal isoerythrolysis. That is why breeders test the blood type of both parents.

We found no published data on how common type B is in this breed; the test is done before mating anyway.

Caring for the kittens

Kittens are weaned at 6–7 weeks. They are ready to go to their new home at about 12 weeks, when they can be separated from their mother.

Neutering

Neutering used to be done at 6–9 months, but it is more and more often done before puberty, at around 3–6 months. It prevents unwanted kittens, urine marking in males and the loud “calling” of females in heat. A 2024 study found that neutered cats live one year longer on average. After the operation, the metabolism slows down and appetite increases, so the portion has to be reduced.

How to choose a kitten

• Ask for the pedigree from a recognised cat association (for example, a FIFe member).
• The kitten leaves its mother at about 12 weeks.
• Look at the mother and at the place where the kittens are raised: it should be clean, with kittens used to people.
• Ask about vaccinations, parasite treatment and the blood type of the parents.

• The “swimming cat”. It has an unusual fascination with water.
• A pattern named after it. The “van” pattern (colour only on the head and tail) bears the breed's name.
• The “athlete” of cats. Its muscular body earns it the nickname of the athlete of cats.
• Not from Van. None of the founding cats came from the Lake Van area.

Why is it called the “swimming cat”?

Because it is unusually fond of water: it plays in its bowl and in the toilet, and some follow their owners into the water.

How big does it get?

Males weigh 5–9 kg and females 3–5 kg; it keeps growing for 3–5 years.

Is it deaf?

Cats with the van pattern are not prone to deafness; all-white ones may be.

Does it come from the Lake Van area?

The name points there, but the founding cats came from other Turkish towns.