Turkish van: description of the breed of cats, keeping and breeding

Turkish van is considered one of the oldest cat breeds. Today, these cats are incredibly popular and prestigious with breeders. Possessing external beauty, cats have unique habits and original color. The material in our article will introduce readers to the nuances of the content and breeding of these cute creatures. In addition, you will learn how this pussy looks and how it appeared in Europe.

Turkish van refers to native breeds formed in a particular area under the influence of natural factors. The origin of animals is lost in the depths of centuries, Eastern Anatolia of Turkey is considered their homeland. For the first time, cats were seen near Lake Van, from where they took part of their name.

In Turkey, cats were called “bath katu”, which means “cat from Lake Van”.

In 1955, the English women Laura Lashington and Sonya Halliday, having gone to Turkey on an assignment, photographed local attractions. It was in Turkey that they saw charming white cats, which they received as a gift from local residents.

The unusual character traits of English kittens were noticed on the way to the airport. Stopping to rest by the stream, the girls took kittens with them, and they gladly jumped into the water and frolic in it. These individuals were recorded in England as the first Van, they were named Van Atilla (Van Atilla) and Van Guzelli Iskenderun (Van Guzelli Iskenderun).After about 4 years, the journalist again visited Turkey, from where she brought four more kittens.

Thus began the selection of van in Europe. However, they were included in the standard by the International Federation of Cat Lovers only in 1973. As for other versions of the origin of exotic cats, there is also a notable legend that is told in Turkey. According to her, when sending Noah's ark, the devil, watching what was happening, decided to sink him.

To this end, he let a small mouse into the ship, which was supposed to gnaw a hole so that through it the ark would be filled with water and sink to the bottom along with everything that was on it. The devil planned to kill a man so that he could not be saved and multiply. Knowing this, God told the white cat on the ark to catch a mouse.

Thanks to these marks, the cat is considered revered and loved. She cannot be offended so as not to incur God's wrath.

A Van cat differs from usual domestic brethren in its dimensions. Females weigh from 4 to 6 kg, the weight of males can be 5-10 kg. These animals have a surprisingly strong body, which is not typical for fluffy cats. It is large, its shape is long and streamlined, slightly tapering to the back. To a greater extent, this feature is expressed in male van.

The length of the cat from the nose to the tip of the tail is on average 1 m or more, the height usually reaches 40 cm. In this case, the individual, as a rule, has a short neck and wide shoulders. The muzzle of cats is larger than that of females, it is angular, resembles a wedge with rounded contours and high cheekbones. Rounded forehead and chin. In general, the muzzle of the animals is quite neat, characterized by pronounced pinch.

The eyes of cats of this breed can be either round or slightly elongated, tending to an oval shape. Their landing is slightly tilted, and the color scheme can be different. Moreover, the eyes of representatives of the Turkish cat breed can be painted in different colors.

The shape of the ears of a Turkish van resembles the ears of wild tribesmen (for example, a sand dune cat). They are large and wide, set wide and high. Their outer edge is located almost vertically. As for the paws, these cats differ in length: the front legs of the breed are shorter than the hind legs. The paw pads are neat, woolen tassels are observed between the fingers.

Van's tail is considered its decoration: it is long, fluffy and painted in a barely noticeable strip. The length of the tail hairs in adults often reaches 5 cm. The hair of a cat with a fur collar is single-layer and half-length, it does not have undercoat. In the summer, it becomes tougher, however, this does not affect its features. It is waterproof, which explains the love of exotic cats for water and swimming, where they enjoy swimming.

Such a cat lives for more than 10 years. However, the life expectancy of a Turkish van depends on various factors. For example, this may be the ecological background of a particular region, the frequency and duration of walks in the fresh air, observation by a veterinarian, timely vaccination and regularity of preventive examinations. On average, cats of this breed live 15–20 years. But if the care of the animal is poor, as evidenced by the lethargy and apathy of the pet, its life span may be reduced.

The color of the cat is unique: the main background is white, spots on the head, ears and the tail itself can be painted in red, cream or even black. In addition to solid white with colored markings, a Van cat can have a tabby color with white. This pattern can be clearly expressed or barely noticeable, which makes the tabby classic or striped.

The blue tabby pattern at the base has a pale ivory hue. The marks themselves are bluish in color, such a color is unique and unusual. In brown tabby, the base of the color is cream beige, the markings are black. The body of white color can be painted with spots of red and gray, other individuals are black and white.

Among the representatives of the Van breed of cats, individuals with tricolor and spotty coloration are found. For example, individuals may have a tortoise color, in which black and reddish spots are located in light red areas. Tortoise color can be diluted, for example, with bluish and cream spots with a tabby pattern on bleached-peach patches.

In addition, these cats are characterized by the colors of patched tabby (torbi) and diluted torbi. Also among representatives of the breed you can meet individuals of other colors. For example, a van may have silvery or even smoky spots on a white body. There are other individuals without signs of hybridization (for example, the Himalayan, chocolate, purple type). Spots on the body - rather a rarity of the color of such cats.

Turkish van is considered one of the most pet-attached pets. The Van Cat is smart and quick-witted; it is one of the most energetic cat breeds. The individuals of the breed are very active and spend a lot of time in active games. Moreover, they love to involve hosts in their games, they understand the slightest hint of a game offer and are happy to activate.

Representatives of the breed find entertainment in everything. They can drive around the house not only candy wrappers from sweets, but even sheets of notebooks rolled up by a lump, easily climb onto cabinets and cling to window curtains. These cats do not have activity - they have enough energy for two. The pet will always ask what the owner is doing, because he likes to be in the center of events.

However, if the van is attached to household members, this does not mean at all that he loves to be picked up and squeezed. On the whole, he misses the owners, cannot be alone for a long time, and often meets people with joyful speeches, "speaking" in his own language. Excessive talkativeness of a cat can be a problem for family members, because the van loves to talk at night, when everyone wants to sleep.

As for relations with other pets, the Van cat gets along well with them until they seek to take a leadership position or build aggressive tactics of behavior. Exotic cat will not provoke conflicts, it does not offend children.

The behavior of a van is often compared with a dog: a pet can be trained. He can be trained in various teams, he can perform simple tricks, wears small objects and his own toys in his teeth. Individuals of the breed often stand on their hind legs, which is uncharacteristic for many domestic brethren. However, muscular cats are not always delicate in games, they are strong, and therefore it is not recommended to leave them alone with small children. Especially a cat will never offend a child, but he may not calculate his strength.

A Van cat needs physical activity and loves interactive toys. Rarely what kind of individual will allow himself to aimlessly manage his time: despondency is alien to the van. They are cramped in a small apartment, for normal growth and development they need a large territory. In a confined space, due to its mobility and thirst for research, the van will quickly turn everything upside down.

The game complex with a scratching point is a great distraction for a Van cat, and the size of the corner should be large, it should have at least several toys. Tired of games, the animal can splash in the water, which is not only not afraid, but also adores. Van enjoys swimming, frolicing and often basking in the water, likes to swim in the pool or in shallow water. Kittens of the breed are very active, they do not know laziness, are curious and very affectionate, although they can not stand unnecessary custody. They prefer to flatter themselves to family members, rather than being in their hands, like toys.

As practice shows, most of the Vanov singles out one of the family members and loves him more than others. The cat understands him so well that it often surprises him with his behavior to the tone of the owner. It creates a feeling that she is aware of the emotional state of a person, adapting to him. For example, he may feel sorry for the owner if he is upset or, conversely, instantly tunes in to an outdoor game, playing along to a person who wants to play along with his pet.

Due to her quick wits, she quickly accustoms to the tray and harness, as well as organized walks in the fresh air. It is also noteworthy that the van can run racing with a person or jump in height, if the owner chose one of these games. Other cats repeat the exercises for the owner.

Vanas are very demanding of themselves. They will not allow you to miss a walk on the street and in a loud voice will “tell” the owner about it. They have developed facial expressions, which will make it possible to understand the cat’s excitement and his disagreement with the fact that his interests were not taken into account. The cat will also complain if the feeding time is missed. The animal quickly gets used to the diet and daily routine; it also understands the time when it should be fed.

Of course, for a pet it is better to live in a private house, where he can more often be in the fresh air and walk with the owner. If at the same time there is a pool near the house, this is even better - the van will be happy to splash in the water in between various studies and games. If desired, and in the water, he will find entertainment for himself, be able to swim and play with the owner in plenty. The abundance of fresh air will positively affect the development of the cat, it will be strong and muscular, with excellent immunity.

It is important to take care of the animal’s hair, comb it in a timely manner, although it is not prone to excessive tangling. This should be done on average 1 time per week, paying special attention to the long-haired tail. During moulting, you need to take care of the wool more often. She combes well if you perform the procedure every day while the cat is molting.

Do not forget about the hygiene of the ears, claws, teeth and eyes. Approximately once every six months, it is necessary to visit the veterinarian for the purpose of a routine examination. If the cat began to poke ears constantly, this may indicate the presence of parasites, which must be disposed of with a special drug. The dosage, frequency and medication itself are selected by the doctor, taking into account the age of the animal.

Periodically (about once every six months) the cat needs to be given a drug for worms, choosing a dosage based on weight. The presence of parasites can be indicated by white eyes that appear in the inner corners of the eyes. In this case, it is also important to contact the veterinarian on time. Consultations of a specialist about the weight of a pet are also important, because the state of health and even the mood of the pet depends on this.

For claws, you should buy a claw-tip, it can also be part of the game complex.

At the same time, it is important to ensure that the product is stable and reliable in terms of the material used.

It should not suffer from the slightest touch of the cat, be resistant to its claws and teeth. Some breeders purchase special wool brushes that can be attached to the wall. Some cats adore combing, and when the owner cannot pay attention to them, they rub themselves against the brush, and often not only with their sides, but also with their faces.

In order for the cat to understand its place, you need to take care of buying a couch with high sides. If you wish, it can be done independently, and your own production allows you to create sometimes more interesting models up to houses. You can take care of the hammock on the battery. Such a device will help the van to soak in the offseason, when the heating is not yet turned on.

You can make a mink, in which the pet can track the owners during the games. As for other household nuances, one of them is thinking over the water supply system. Some cats quickly enough understand how to open a one-armed tap to make water flow. They figure out how to use the door handles, because they will not ignore any corner of the house in the absence of the owners.

The more toys the cat has, the better: in addition to observing what is happening on the street through the window, it will take most of his time in the absence of the owners. For a cat to be smart, education is necessary, which will continue throughout the life of the pet. He has an amazing memory, during his life he is most of all attached to one owner and does not change this attachment. If the cat is brought up correctly, he will not cause trouble to household members.

Training starts from childhood, at which time kittens can afford to hiss and show hostility to others. For example, they can bite, scratch, and hide from a person. This flaw is eliminated by the breeder: the cat becomes friendly thanks to him. However, other kittens are more friendly and fond.

Under such conditions, the baby quickly forgets past habits and gets used to household members. If the kitten does not respond to the teaching and continues to behave badly, it is slightly raised at the withers, showing who is in charge of the house. As a rule, the pet perceives such lessons adequately and quickly realizes that you need to behave yourself.

In general, vans are well trained and rarely cause problems for their breeders. If a kitten favors a person, he begins to purr. In this case, he is set up well and completely trusts the owner. During the first year of life, the animal understands all the rules in the house. Like all family members, he obeys them, becomes independent and learns to communicate.

It is necessary to feed a Vansky cat correctly: natural food cannot be excluded from the diet, relying on industrial food. He cannot fully compensate for the deficiency of all the substances she needs, and besides, she is able to harm her health, no matter how advertising claims otherwise. Meat and fish should be essential components of a nutritious diet.

Feed should be selected taking into account the age category of the animal. In order not to overfeed the baby, it is necessary to take into account the dosage of the food, taking into account the weight. Wang loves natural food, for example, he eats lean meat, vegetables, cereals, dairy products, and offal well. In addition to all this, he needs vitamin and mineral complexes. If the kitten’s nutrition is balanced, its weight will change every month.

If the breeder prefers to buy dry food, it is better not to save on its quality. In this case, it is better to purchase meat products without preservatives. However, it is worth noting: food alone can eventually harm the cat’s health.In addition, after some time, the animal may completely refuse natural food, which is very bad, because no matter what the food, it will not replace the beneficial substances contained in natural food.

If the pet does not receive vitamins and minerals, it will become drowsy, and hair loss may begin. You can’t feed the cat food from your table, and therefore, after a meal, you need to remove everything from it, because the cat is curious and may be interested in what attracts this or that food of the household, which is interesting in a bottle of milk. She herself needs a diet with sufficient protein and carbohydrates. Fish for van needs boiled and peeled. A cat should not be offered to eat chocolate, sweets, honey, pickles or smoked meats - this food is harmful for him, leading to allergies and tooth decay.

Due to the naturalness of its breed, the Turkish van is in good health, representatives of this breed do not have genetic diseases. Only in rare cases can a cat catch a cold when swimming. Wash it too often is undesirable, bathing water should be warm. A sign of the cat’s excellent health is its weight, however, this does not mean that the cat can be overfed. When overweight, the activity of the animal decreases.

Be sure to have a bowl of water in the house. A van does not have to search for water on his own, anywhere. In natural habitat, water is in sufficient volume. The cat’s teeth are usually strong, in the absence of vitamin deficiency, they will last him a lifetime. If the owner noticed that at least one tooth had fallen out, the veterinarian should be consulted urgently.

You need to choose a kitten in a professional nursery, looking after a baby of two months of age. At this time, he was already accustomed to the tray and scratching post, and in addition, socialized and vaccinated. Ideally, it is advisable to bring a kitten from abroad. He will have all the necessary documents, moreover, he will be purebred.

If this option is not feasible, you must first decide on the choice of the nursery, scrolling through the reviews about it, asking about the cleanliness of the breed, the availability of the necessary documentation (kitten's veterinary passport) and the pedigree. The kitten should be active and nimble, in addition, its appearance should be well-groomed. It is necessary to find out the nuances of his health before the purchase, draw up and sign an agreement in which, in addition to the price, the conditions for transferring the animal and its further keeping will be described.

At the time of purchase, the kitten you like must be vaccinated. In addition, it is important to pay attention to color. As for the documentation, it is worth considering: the best pedigree is considered to be the one in which a greater number of relatives of the van are indicated. If the kitten was picked up, but he has not yet two months, he will not be taken. And the reason for this is not only not all the necessary vaccinations, but also the need for the primary immunity that the baby receives with the milk of mother cat.

You can’t take a tiny baby, because if it is too early to tear it away from the mother, it will be painful. In addition, it is the mother who teaches the rules of the game, as well as behavior, in the first months of each kitten's life. She shows how to go to the toilet.

Among the breeders of the Turkish van, every purebred is appreciated. Even if the baby is left without a nurse, the breeders offer different options, but these are additional difficulties associated with special care. An interesting nuance is that such a kitten will not be given to everyone who goes to the nursery. The buyer must be trusted by professional breeders.

The knitting of Turkish van is made according to the standard scheme.This is unacceptable until the animals reach the age of one year, two estruses in the cat must be skipped. As a rule, from 3 to 6 kittens are born in the litter. They are born blind, with a little wool.

Cat moms are very attentive to their children. They are caring, protect babies from any danger. Difficulties in breeding may arise due to the search for a partner: in our country, finding a cat or cat for mating is not easy, but to acquire an authentic cat you need to go to Turkey.

The price of a kitten in Russian nurseries can be from 8 thousand rubles. There are few nurseries in the country, kittens that are brought from Turkey are sold more expensive, and a special veterinary certificate is also required for export. The price of an individual may also depend on the pedigree. Some breeders value kittens at several thousand dollars.

The Turkish van is told about the history of cats in the next video.