Is Turkish Van the same as Turkish Angora?

Where did the Turkish Van breed come from?

These cats became the progenitors for the Turkish Van breed. In reality, the Turkish Van breed probably developed in central and southwest Asia.

Where can I get a Turkish Van cat?

In Turkey, the Turkish Van is a protected breed, and there are several breeding programs dedicated to preservation of the Turkish Van. Outside of Turkey, Turkish Vans can sometimes be obtained from cat breeders, although they tend to be rather costly. This cat breed is believed to be quite ancient.

How old is the Turkish Van cat breed?

Turkish Van cats: Old but relatively new! Turkish Vans are somewhat new to the United States. It is believed that they arrived in 1982, but the breed’s history is lengthy and varied. The Turkish Van arrived in England in 1955 with a British photographer, Laura Lushington, who journeyed throughout the Lake Van area capturing the scenery.

Where did the Van cat breed come from?

Lois Miles, an American cat breeder in 1989 felt that it was purely accidental that the original pair of Turkish Van cats brought back from Turkey to England in 1955 had the Van Pattern in auburn. These markings became enshrined as synonymous with this breed in the West but in Turkey this is far from the case.

What is the difference between a Van cat and a bicolor?

While all van cats are bicolor, not all bicolor cats are van cats with the van pattern. The amount of white on a piebald (a bicolor with one of the colors being white) cat is measured by a scale. When less than 40% of the body is white, it’s considered low-grade.

Why are Van cats so rare?

The breed is rare, and is distinguished by the Van pattern (named for the breed), where the colour is restricted to the head and the tail, and the rest of the cat is white; this is due to the expression of the piebald white spotting gene, a type of partial leucism.

Where did the Van breed come from?

The breed has been claimed to be descended from the landrace of usually all-white Van cats (Turkish: Van kedisi), mostly found near Lake Van, though one of the two original breeders’ own writings indicate clearly that none of the breed’s foundation cats came from the Van area, which has historically been in Armenia.

When did the first Turkish Van cat come to America?

They first arrived in the UK in 1955, nearly 30 years before one would make it to the USA. In 1969, the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy, a UK-based cat association, officially recognized the breed; still 13 years before a Turkish Van would first arrive in America.

How long does it take for a Turkish Van cat to grow?

Turkish Van cats take a long time to grow up: These kitties reach full maturity between the age of three and five years. The Turkish Van cat is nicknamed “the swimming cat” because of the breed’s fondness for water. The first Turkish Vans were famous for hopping into pools whenever their human companions jumped in to cool off.

What is the most peculiar colour pattern of the domestic cat?

Consistent specimens of this variety are extremely rare and it can probably be regarded as one of the most peculiar colour patterns of the domestic cat. The colour of the head and tail can be either black, grey, blue or yellow with no white hairs except those regularly showing up on the head.

What is a “van pattern” cat?

Cat enthusiasts are familiar with the term “van pattern.” Again, this refers to a bicolor cat with a white coat and coloration on the head and tail and sometimes some color patches on the body. There are many breeds of cats that have bicolor coats, the most popular among them are:

What kind of cat has a bicolor coat?

There are many breeds of cats that have bicolor coats, the most popular among them are: While all van cats are bicolor, not all bicolor cats are van cats with the van pattern. The amount of white on a piebald (a bicolor with one of the colors being white) cat is measured by a scale.

Where do Van cats come from?

The breed has been claimed to be descended from the landrace of usually all-white Van cats ( Turkish: Van kedisi ), mostly found near Lake Van, though one of the two original breeders’ own writings indicate clearly that none of the breed’s foundation cats came from the Van area, which has historically been in Armenia.

Why are they called the Vans?

Over the centuries, the Vans were transported throughout the Eastern continents by invaders, traders, and explorers. The Vans have been called by a variety of names: Eastern Cat, Turkish, Ringtail Cat, and Russian Longhair. Being cats, Vans probably didn’t answer to any of them.

Did vans answer to cats?

Being cats, Vans probably didn’t answer to any of them. The modern and better-known history of the Van began in 1955 when British citizens Laura Lushington and Sonia Halliday were given two Van kittens while touring Turkey.

What is the history of the Van cat breed?

The modern and better-known history of the Van began in 1955 when British citizens Laura Lushington and Sonia Halliday were given two Van kittens while touring Turkey. Since the breed was not known in Britain at the time, they decided to work with the cats and try to get them recognized by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF).

Where did Sonia Halliday get her Turkish Van cat breed?

While they were there, Sonia Halliday and Laura Lushington were given cats with a distinct Van pattern, which became the foundation for the Turkish Van cat breed. The female cat was from Hatay Province, Iskenderun, and was named Van Iskenderun Guzelli. The male was named Stambul Byzantium, and was given to the breeders by an Istanbul hotel manager.

What is the history of the Turkish Van cat?

The history of the Turkish Van cat begins in 1955, when two British photographers visited Turkey, having been tasked by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism with promoting travel and publicizing Turkey’s attractions.

How long does it take for a Van cat to grow?

This is a large breed; they can take three to five years to reach their full size. The Van who has been well socialized is comfortable with kids, making him a good choice for families with active children who will enjoy running around with a teaser toy, throwing a ball for the cat to fetch, or teaching tricks.

What is a piebald cat coat called?

Bi-Color (Piebald) Coats A bicolor cat, often known as a piebald cat, is a cat with white fur and another color of hair, such as black or tabby. There are several bicolor cat designs. These are available in a variety of patterns, from Turkish Van to plain color with a neck locket.

What is a “van” pattern?

This type of color pattern is so distinctive that when it appears in other cat breeds it’s often called a “van” pattern.

Can a bicolour cat have no white on his legs?

That is why most bicolour British Shorthair cats have white legs, tummy and a face mask on the lower part of their face. Bicolours are usually around 30-50% white. However, it is possible for a genetically bicoloured cat to have no white on him at all! We once had a lilac bicolour colourpoint who had just two toes that were white!

What is a bicolour British Shorthair cat?

This means that when you do see a bicolour British Shorthair, there is something very unusual and unique about them that is quite captivating. They are called bicolour cats because their coats contain two colours: their original coat colour, and white. The white can appear anywhere on the cat.

What does it mean when a cat has bicolour?

The bicolour, or White Spotting gene, is a dominant gene. This means that a cat need only inherit it from one parent in order to be a bicolour cat. It also means that, except for the rare example given above, only a bicolour cat can produce bicolour kittens.

What is a van-pattern cat?

This is known as a Van-pattern cat, as in the cat breed Turkish Van. Other terms are “cap-and-saddle”, “mask-and-mantle,” and the random splashes known as “magpie.” The tri-color patterns which lead to Tortoiseshell and Calicoes have clear personality traits attached.

What are Van cats called?

Over the years, the Van cats have been called by a variety of names, including Eastern Cat, Turkish, Ringtail Cat, and Russian Longhair.

Why are Turkish Vans called the swimming cats?

Turkish Vans are often called “the swimming cats” because they’re said to love water. Fans of the fluffy feline claim they’ve seen the kitty jump into showers, pounce at dripping faucets, and splash through puddles, kiddie pools, and thunderstorms.