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At
a glance...
Body Size... Medium
Coat Length... Long
Life span... 15 yrs |
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Turkish Van |
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Description... |
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This is a medium sized cat
with a medium length soft silky coat with no undercoat. The coat may
be noticeably shorter in the summer. This breed is defined by its
name as having the "van" coat pattern, in which the body is covered
with chalky white fur and all colour markings are confined to the
head and tail. Eyes are amber or blue with pink pigmentation on the
rims.
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History...
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The Turkish Van originated in
the Lake Van region of SE Turkey, in the 1600's. Crusaders brought
examples of these cats to England, calling them "White Ringtails" or
"Russian Longhairs".
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Traits...
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Turkish Vans are agile cats
and are good swimmers. They are vocal and have a melodious voice.
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Health...
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Congenital deafness may be
present in cats with a white coat and blue or odd-coloured eyes.
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Summary...
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The
Turkish Van is a natural breed from the rugged, remote and
climatically varied region of the Middle East. The breed is known
for its unique, distinctive pattern ... the term "van" has been
adopted by a variety of breeds to describe white cats with coloured
head and tail markings. The Turkish Van is a solidly-built,
semi-longhaired cat with great breadth to the chest. The strength
and power of the cat is evidenced in its substantial body and legs.
This breed takes a full 3-5 years to reach full maturity and
development, therefore allowances must be made for age and sex.
Despite age and sex, as adults, individuals should convey an overall
impression of a well-balanced and well-proportioned appearance in
which no feature is exaggerated to foster weakness or extremes.
Turkish Vans are very intelligent and alert cats, and as such feel
more secure, and handle better with all four feet on a solid
surface.
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