Intelligent, lively, affectionate, even possessive, sociable, the Turk of Van is also a very beautiful cat with soft and silky hair. He has a strong character but is docile when he has given his trust to his master. He makes an excellent companion cat.
Size: 25 cm to 30 cm
Weight: 4 kg to 8 kg
Hair: long in winter, short in summer
Color: two-tone with a white base
Life expectancy: 15 years
Gestation period: 60 to 63 days
Description and characteristics of the Turk of Van
The Turk of Van is a big cat with a heavy and muscular look while being very agile. Its triangle-shaped head, rounded muzzle and prominent cheeks are recognizable. He wears his ears well erect on his head, or sometimes slightly pointing downwards. The Van Turk has very expressive eyes, most often amber or blue in color. It has the particularity, like some other cat breeds, of having its rear legs a little longer than the front ones.
Its main physical characteristic is the moult it undergoes when the good weather arrives. Its soft, mid-length winter hair does indeed fall en masse at this time, except for its tail. In summer, the Turk of Van has short hair. Its tail, marked by sorts of red rings, remains in the shape of a plume, whatever the time of year. Its dress is two-tone: white all over the body and darker colored spots, often brown or red, on its tail and head.
Origin of Van Turk
There are very old traces of the Turk of Van, in Roman times. Geographically, this cat is native to territories located near Lake Van in southeastern Turkey, very close to Armenia, highlands with very difficult climatic conditions. In the mid-1950s, the Van Turk was exported to Britain where his breed was improved. No one is really sure of his ancestry but some believe he may be descended from the Turkish Angora.
Character and behavior of the Turk of Van – Who is it for?
The Turk of Van has the particularity of being a dynamic and very turbulent cat. He loves to play and find new activities to satisfy his curiosity. It is a cat that also likes water a lot and even happens to be a good swimmer. Independent, the Turk of Van is however very affectionate and he can be very possessive vis-à-vis his masters. It is also a sociable cat, both with other animals and with people outside its family.
How to take care of your Van Turk: his needs
Due to its great activity, the Turk of Van is not made to live confined in an apartment. He needs at least a balcony to feel good. The best thing is to be able to offer him a garden with trees so that he can climb at leisure, one of his favorite occupations. On the maintenance side, the Turk of Van does not require any particular care except regular brushing of his hair.
The diet of the Turk of Van
The Van Turk does not require a special diet. It can be your choice of homemade food such as good quality croquettes. It is simply necessary to take care to balance its food according to the age, the state of health and the physical exercise of the Turk of Van.
The health of the Turk of Van
There are no known diseases specific to the Van Turk breed. Like all cats, it should be vaccinated regularly and checked for parasites. In the same way, regular visits to the veterinarian can possibly detect in this cat a heart disease (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) which he may be subject to.
Price of a Turkish kitten from Van
The price of a Turkish Van kitten will depend on the sex, the pedigree of the parents, the conformity to the standards of the breed, etc.
Price of a Turkish Van male: €750 to €1,050
Price of a female Turk from Van: 750 to 1,050€