Turkish Van Cat Breed Information

Group

Semi-long Haired

Weight

4.5-9 kg

Length

23-28 cm

Lifespan

12-17 years

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About the Turkish Van Cat

Reviewed by:

Dr. Cristina Alice Vulpe

Veterinarian

The Turkish Van is considered a national treasure in their native homeland of (you guessed it) Turkey – and for good reason. Energetic, intelligent, striking good looks, and apparently blessed by the gods – but aren’t we all? Here’s everything you need to know if you’re considering adding a Turkish Van to your family.

What Is the History & Origin of the Turkish Van Cat?

For many generations, Turkey – especially Istanbul – has had a long-running love affair with felines. The true origins of this inter-species bond are not fully known, but the prevalence of stray cats (within Istanbul at least) can be traced back to the Ottoman Empire.

Possibly more significant, however, is their reverence within Islamic culture, not only for being ritually clean but also their direct veneration from the Prophet Muhammad himself. This is mentioned in various tales (no pun intended) from the hadith; one of which recounts the Prophet being saved from a deadly serpent by a feline!

As for Turkish Vans, their name derives from a large body of water, unsurprisingly named Lake Van, or Van Gölü to natives, situated in Eastern Turkey’s vast highlands, where their evolutionary heritage is believed to have originated.

It’s also believed – according to artifacts referencing their distinct markings and a biblical tale involving a certain Noah – that their breed history stretches as far back as before Christ, making this Turkish cat an ancient breed indeed!

What Is a Turkish Van Cat Breed?

A rumbustious, muscular and vibrant breed: the Turkish Van proudly wears its ancestral roots on its sleeve. Their broad physique and thick coat are genetically primed for a life on the harsh mountainous plains of Eastern Turkey. This accounts for their boundless energy and athletic prowess, classic hallmarks of the Turkish Van cat personality.

Who Is a Turkish Van Cat Best For?

Turkish Vans are especially well suited to active and busy family lives. Their energetic, playful nature means they’re especially fun pets for careful kids.

More boisterous children may unsettle and annoy a Turkish Van if they smother it or become too rough when petting their feline friend. It’s important to ensure children are educated in the ways of the Van! Once they are, they will realise what a fun companion they can be.

What Does a Turkish Van Cat Look Like?

Not content with just having the credentials as one of the rarest pedigreed cats out there, the Turkish Van is also famous for its exotic, head-turning looks! Mainly, that’s down to its coat – more on that later. However, the Turkish Van also has a wedge-shaped head, medium-sized ears, and round eyes, which are either amber or blue.

Coat

The Turkish Van’s coat is as luxurious as it looks; long, silky-smooth to the touch, with a cashmere feel. Their single coat becomes thick and dense during the winter months, naturally thinning out for the summer, as is the case with many other cat breeds.

Their soft coat is also hyper-adapted to moisture, as is to be expected when you’re known as “the swimming cat”; this explains why getting wet for this particular cat is like water off a…well, Van’s back!

Colours

The Turkish Van is known for its distinct splodges of colour, and they cover a diverse range: blue patched tabby, brown patched tabby, and cream tabby, just to name a few.

Turkish Vans have vibrant follicle contrasts, and this is especially true with their eyes, which can often be different colours from one another!

Traditionally, their colouring was believed to be a blessing from the gods, or the blessing of “Allah’s thumbprint” specifically. Either way, it’s an aesthetically pleasing by-product of their heritage.

Patterns

Whilst the Van’s coat is predominantly white, it’s also beautifully adorned with multi-coloured, decorative splodges around their head, shoulder blades and tail: known as the Van pattern. This unique feature is due to a pronounced expression of a gene known as the Piebald gene (in homage to a Magpie’s colouring).

Turkish Van Cat Grooming & Shedding

As is the case with many other feline breeds, regular grooming is key to a healthy coat all year round. The Turkish Van’s coat is (fortunately) genetically resistant to matting, despite their hair length, which makes grooming them relatively straightforward.

Regular weekly brushing during the transition between their winter coat and summer coat is of particular importance. Like other cat breeds, nail trimming and ear cleaning are the only other grooming rituals that should be undertaken regularly; other than those, the Van will take care of the rest.

How Do Turkish Van Cats Behave? A Look at Their Temperament and Personality

Contrary to popular opinion that a cat’s deepest desire is to usurp their simian-like foes in an insatiable quest for world domination, the Turkish Van cat is actually very affable towards human beings in spite of their wild roots – and can even be very affectionate!

The Turkish Van cat appreciates space and subtlety when it comes to petting; they will reward you with attention and affection if you adopt this approach.

Living Needs

Despite the Van being a bundle of furry energy, having very few health issues, and not being your traditional lap cat, they’re still best kept indoors to avoid external threats such as the angry neighbourhood canines and speeding metal boxes.

You don’t need to wrap them in cotton wool by any means, as they do need plenty of activity, but being a particularly rare and ancient breed, we need to protect them for posterity.

What Are Common Habits and Activity Levels of Turkish Van Cats?

An active kitty, the Turkish Van requires mental stimulation – a playful, physically engaging zest for life is the way to this cat’s heart.

Habits

Another unique evolutionary characteristic of this breed is their propensity for frolicking in water. Being from the Lake Van area, these cats will happily stick their heads under a running tap or jump headlong into a bath full of water; this, of course, runs contrary to many of their feline cousins, who often react to the stuff like they would molten lava!

Activity Level

A noun that sums up this cat nicely is; energy. Plenty of stimulation, such as toys, games and activities to occupy their curious minds, are needed for them to be happy and fulfilled. They can even be trained to play go-fetch!

Vocalness

Not being a particularly vocal cat, the Van would rather follow you around, jump onto the nearest high surface, and knock your precious items over to get your undivided attention.

What Is the Weight, Height, and Size of a Turkish Van Cat?

Height

The average height of the Van is 23-28 cm tall, similar to many other cats, which serves to disguise their famously big frames well – covertly sneaking them into the dimensions of your regular domestic house cat.

Weight

With female Vans weighing on average between 4.5-5.5 kg, and males anywhere from 4.5 to a whopping 9 kg, they are a lot beefier than your average house cat – which blows their height cover wide open!

Size

The Van is often mistaken for the Turkish Angora, as both breeds look strikingly similar. However, on closer inspection, the Van appears to be the much stockier sibling to the more delicate and svelte Angora and your average domestic house cat.

Are Turkish Van Cats Easy to Train?

A breed that is often said to be a cat in dog’s clothing, the Van, as aforementioned, can play fetch, and can be taught commands that are usually associated with man’s best friend. Litter training should be easy with these guys.

Does the Turkish Van Cat Have Any Common Health Issues?

Being a pure breed with very little intervention from those meddling humans, Vans are generally healthy with no noticeable genetic health problems. The usual vaccinations and annual visits to the vet are recommended, but no special requirements are needed in addition to this.

What Is the Lifespan of a Turkish Van Cat?

Their lifespan is very similar to that of many other domestic cat breeds – around 12-17 years of age on average.

How Much Does a Turkish Van Cat Need to Be Fed?

A Turkish Van’s diet is very similar to that of a domestic breed. Being very much on the carnivorous side, it’s recommended their diet leans more towards being predominantly meat-based than dry food-based.

For many Vans of average weight, a general rule of 70 calories for each kilo of body weight will help them maintain a healthy weight throughout their lifetimes.

How Much Can You Expect to Pay for a Turkish Van Cat in Australia?

Being a very treasured breed in Turkey, legislation prevents them from being exported to outside buyers. This means there aren’t too many active breeders outside of Turkey. In Australia, this breed is very rare; prices can vary considerably.

If you find a legitimate and reputable breeder, you can expect to spend upwards of $1,000 for a pure breed Van cat. Cross-breeds may be cheaper, with a price range around $500-$800.

It may be more likely, that you will find a Van at an adoption centre, where you could potentially pick one up for as little as $100.

When purchasing, you must ensure the seller provides a health guarantee, with all the relevant vaccination and worming documentation; along with confirmation of their registration to the CFA (Cat Fanciers Association) or TICA (The International Cat Association).

Turkish Van Cat FAQs

Are Turkish Van cats a rare breed?

Yes, they’re relatively rare, even in their homeland! As a result, they’re considerably rare elsewhere, but the U.S and Britain tend to have more breeders than other countries.

Do Turkish Van cats get along well with kids and other household pets?

Yes, these cats get on fine with other household animals and kids, providing they’re introduced carefully and patiently.

How can you identify a Turkish Van cat?

The distinctive coloured markings on the Van’s head, their odd eye colours and chunky frames; these features are enough to make these cats very easy to recognise!