Turkish Van

breed of domestic cat

The Turkish Van is a breed of cat that comes from Turkey. It has lived in the Lake Van area of Turkey for hundreds of years. This is why it is named the Turkish Van.[1] This part of Turkey is in very high mountains and has long, cold winters. But the summers are hot.

Turkish Van
A Turkish Van with heterochromia.
Turkish Van cat
Other namesTurkish cat (obsolete)
OriginTurkey (foundation stock),
United Kingdom (initial breeding programme)
Breed standards
CFAstandard
FIFestandard
TICAstandard
AACEstandard
ACFstandard
ACFA/CAAstandard
GCCFstandard
Domestic cat (Felis catus)

This cat got used to this climate over time by its body changing. It now has a thick, full fur coat in the winter, but sheds in the summer and becomes a short-haired cat. The Turkish Van swims in the summer to cool itself off and the thin summer coat dries quickly.[1]

Eye colours change

 
Turkish Van with different eye colors

A Turkish Van may have blue eyes, amber eyes, or eyes with two different colors.[2]

References change

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Turkish Van: Physical Characteristics". PetMD. 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  2. "Turkish Van Cats". Retrieved 12 June 2016.

Other websites change