How to Identify a Turkish Van Cat

The originating country for the Turkish Van Cat is, of course, Turkey. They come from the snowy regions of the country near Lake Van and were imported to England in 1955. Although this breed isn't accepted as a separate breed by the U.S., it is in England. Follow the steps below to identify this particular breed.

Instructions

1. Run your hand through the Turkish Van's coat. It should be soft, silky and very dense. The coat is white with chestnut coloring on the head and down the tail. The tail is chestnut with darker rings on the tail.

2. Feel the body of the cat. It will be a robust cat with muscular shoulders and a rather elongated body.

3. Examine the head of the cat. It should be rather wedge-shaped and have a long nose with a colored tip, most often pink.

4. Notice the ears. They will be large and hairy pink on the inside.

5. Look into the eyes of the cat. They are round and always amber-yellow colored.

6. Feel the tail. Down the length of it, the fur will be dense all the way to the end. The coloring of the tail will be chestnut with darker rings.

Tips & Warnings

• These cats are very tranquil and affectionate. They are highly intelligent and enjoy baths and being around and in the water.

Resources

• The International Cat Association Homepage
• The Cat Fanciers' Federation Homepage