Turkish Van
The Turkish Van cat is a hearty cat that emerged from the somewhat hostile regions of Asia. The cat is known as the swimming cat for it is one of the few cats that love water.
History
Modern feline history states the Turkish Van cat was bred in 1954 when two British photographers Laura Lushington and Sonjia Halliday, brought home from Turkey two unrelated Turkish cats. The cats mated and later almost identical kittens were born establishing the modern breeding program for the Turkish cat. The two photographers established a breeding program which they operated through their cattery named Van. By 1969 the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy recognized the Turkish Cat. [1] In 1985, the official name for the Turkish Cat was changed to Turkish Van.
The International Cat Association recognized the breed in 1979 as a natural breed cat. Breeders Jack and Barbara Reark imported a male Van cat and a female kitten from France to establish a US breeding program. Later cats were imported from the Netherlands to enlarge the US gene pool. [1]
The Turkish Cat has a long and fabled history may go back to Biblical times. The cat is an ancient breed that came out of Asia. Some believe the cat is from the mountainous area of the Eastern Anatolian or the Lake Van region which is located near Mt. Ararat. Mt. Ararat is reportedly where Noah's Ark was sighted and the Turkish Cat was on board the Ark, according to local Turkish legends. Perhaps, and if the Ark legend is true, the Turkish cat learned to love water as the cat reportedly fell into the flood waters when aboard the Ark. [1] [2]
However the Turkish cat evolved in Turkey, the cat has been featured in Hittite jewelery and on Roman shields as local residents revere the Turkish cat or Turkish Van as it is known in the United States.
The Armenians consider the patterned cat their national symbol while the Turkish people consider the all white odd-colored eye cat as their national symbol. So highly treasured by the Turkish people, the all white cat can only be exported if a permit is granted.[1]
The International Cat Association Breed Standard
The breed stand is located in the external links file section of this article.
Breed characteristics
The Turkish Van cat is one of the few cats that love water. They are known as the swimming cat due to their love of water. They are intelligent cats that are slow to mature. They are reportedly healthy cats.[3]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 turkishvancat.org. Retrieved on 2010-09-24.
- ↑ TICA Turkish Van Breed Introduction. Retrieved on 2010-09-24.
- ↑ Cat Fanciers' Association: Breed Profile: Turkish Van. Retrieved on 2010-09-24.