Turkish Van Cats: Breed Profile

History: The Turkish Van cat is an ancient and rare breed that developed in a section of Southwest Asia that includes Iran, Iraq, and part of Turkey. This breed is distinct from the Turkish Angora. It developed in a different area and is quite different in terms of appearance and personality.

In 1955, the Turkish government hired a pair of English photographers to take some photos throughout their country for tourism promotions. While near Lake Van, the photographers observed some pretty white cats with apricot colored markings on their faces and tails. The photographers were quite surprised when the cats jumped in the lake and started swimming and playing in the water. At the end of their photography tour, they were given a breeding pair of Turkish Van cats as a gift. This was the start of the breed in Europe.

The breed was a latecomer to the United States. In the 1970's, American servicemen, stationed in the Turkish Van cat's native home area, brought some Turkish Van cats home to the United States with them. The breed didn't catch on as a show cat though until 1982 when Barbara and Jack Reark important two Turkish Van cats from France and three Turkish Van cats from the Netherlands for their South Miami cattery. They actively worked to promote the breed which is now an active presence in the cat world in the United States.

Appearance: Turkish Van cats are all white cats with colored markings limited to the tail and head. In their native lands, the markings are limited to various shades of red, but in Europe and the United States the markings can be in any color or pattern as long as they are limited to the appropriate areas. The coat is medium long, a bit shorter in the summer, and single layered, lying close to the body. It has a unique cashmere feel and is extremely waterproof.

The Turkish Van has a medium to large size body (the males are nearly twice as big as the females and much more heavily muscled.) The legs are medium length and powerful. The head is a wide wedge with high set, wide spaced ears. The nose is rounded, and the amber or blue eyes are almost round and slightly slanted.