The atmosphere there is rough with very high temperatures in the summer and extremely cold winters.
In this landscape the cats had to survive. Food was rare and only the fittest were able to survive.
The mainfood were fishes which were caught with their paws. That's why they became "swimming cats"
who are not shy of water. Because of the climate they have short coat in summer and a long one
during the winter. Only the tailcoat is independent of the saeson and is always long and bushy.
Under the paws they have a hairtuft that is called "Snowboots". On their ears they also have a bunch
of hair. During winter they wear "pants" and full-growns get a "collar". The coat is soft like silk
and without underwool. As the coat is easy to cre. It's enough to brush it once a week.
Only when they change their coat you should help a little bit and do it more often. About everything
else they care by themselves. Usually you don't have to worry about the care, despite they are belonging
to the"half-long-hair-races". The Turkish Van-Cat are strong, powerful cats. The males can with
between six and eight kilogramms, female a little less. Their sexual instincts can develop real quick.
After nine to ten month they should be castrated. They are full-grown when they are around four years
old, and until then they turned into real beauties.
The character of the Turkish Van
The Turkish Van is very lively and playful. They fit perfect into
a family with kids or other animals (even dogs faithful and affectionate cats.) They choose
a person to relate with and to give all their love to.
Many Vans like to play with balls, playmouses and so on. If you throw it away, they bring it
back again and again. They are very persevering in that. If you're tired of playing but they still
want to, they show you all their charme - and they have a lot of it - and you have no other chance as to
continue to play with'em. Whatever you wanted to do, it's better to postpone it to another time.
Van cats are good hunters too. That's why you should let them go out only on saved balconies or
fenced gardens. Everything moving outside could be a target. When they hunt they forget everything
else and would like to fly away to follow the targeted bird. Because of their strenght the
Turkish Van is not ill very often.
But before you decide for this race you also have to know, that they are very independent cats
who don't like to be carried around for too long.
They are also not good as pure cats to show, 'cause there always has to be something to play
around 'em. When they get tired they look for a place to rest (nevermind if it's in the door or
on the stairs). Whatever they do, they bribe you with their charme, their intelligence and their
ability to play at any time. With a single word: their whole being will put a spell on you.
As they are talkactive they respond if you to them. And even if you don't start to cha, they still
got a lot to say by themselves.
Should a Turkish Van enter your life it should never be boring again. You sure will have a lot of
joy with this wonderful animals.
