The Turkish van cat is a mutation from the Turkish Angora cat, strictly a strain of the Angora cat, the two cats can be regarded as close relatives, the Turkish van cat is one of the most valuable cat species, has been loved by people for hundreds of years. The Turkish Van cat originated in the Lake Van region of Turkey, which has a very extreme climate. The Turkish van cat, on the other hand, moults to adapt to the weather, and in winter grows so much fur that its neck is as long as a muppet’s neck. In the warm summer, the Turkish van cat will lose a lot of hair, become very short, and lose a lot more hair than the average cat.
The Turkish Van cat has a knotted solid type, with medium length of long hair, white and shiny hair, the hair is very smooth like silk, the whole body except for the head, ears and tail with milky yellow or light brown markings, there is not a single miscellaneous hair, the appearance is extremely beautiful and cute, the head is broad wedge-shaped, the ears are small, and the eyes are large oval.
The Turkish Vatican cat is smart, alert, lively, likes to play and climb. It is easy to get acquainted with its new home and new owner. It likes to follow people, play and jump around. It has a sweet and pleasant call and is friendly to people. It is an excellent breed that is very suitable for family breeding.Turkish Vatican cats are lively and curious. They don’t like small spaces or being restrained. They are playful and sleepy. Their personalities are often very similar to dogs. They often persevere in snatching objects that arouse their interest. Many owners call them “cat-like dogs.”
Both Jewish and Islamic traditions believe that a divine touch gives the cats their original white coat color. It is said that a door slammed shut the cat’s tail, turning it red, and God reached out and touched the cat’s head, leaving a mark. In the Islamic version, Allah touches the back of a cat and thus leaves fingerprints, so the spots seen on the back of a Turkish Sanskine cat are called Allah’s thumbprints.
The Turkish Van cat is a terrestrial wild animal of medium to large size, with females weighing up to 5 to 6 kg and tomcats weighing around 7 kg. Their bodies are white and flawless, with only dark red or brownish yellow veins on their faces, necks, and tails, giving them a more lively look.
It is worth mentioning that the fur of the Turkish Vatican cat is very shiny and highly waterproof, which makes them have a good swimming ability.The Turkish Vatican cat likes water very much and especially likes to play in the water. It is a well-known “swimmer” in the cat world. It also likes to play in the water. When bathing in warm water, it will show great interest like young children who often bathe.
In addition to their excellent swimming skills, the Turkish van cat also has a unique appearance. Their eyes are round and large, and come in a variety of colors, such as amber, blue and even different eyes. The ears are triangular in shape, raised high above the head. In addition, the fur color of the van cat is changeable, the whole body is pure white, and the face and tail are distributed with a variety of colorful patterns such as black, orange, reddish-brown, milky yellow, black dot color, blue dot color and tabby stripes.
Due to its great physical strength and keen observation, the Turkish Van Cat may appear a bit unruly to outsiders, and even show aggressive emotions at times. Still, with patience and proper training, the Turkish Van cat will turn into a docile and affectionate companion. However, because the Turkish cat originally grew up in an outdoor environment, it is not suitable for keeping in homes with many minor children.
In Turkey, Turkish Vatican cats are regarded as national treasures, and their protection is the responsibility of the Turkish Agricultural Academy and the Ankara Zoo.Local Turkish law prohibits the export of Vatican cats, so Vatican cats are rarely seen abroad and are limited to diplomatic gifts from the Turkish government.