Turkish Van Kittens

Turkish Van kittens make great pets. Known for their affinity for water, Turkish Vans are loyal and loving felines.

The Turkish Van breed has origins in the Lake Van region of Turkey. They were brought from Turkey to England around 1955 and quickly grew a following for their distinctive looks and personalities. Turkish Vans were also sent directed to the United States from Turkey as well.

Turkish Vans are a natural breed. Their love of water can be traced back to their country of origin, Turkey. There Vans were noted to swim in mountain streams as a way to cool off in the hot Middle Eastern summers.

Physical Appearance

Turkish Van Kittens have medium to long fur. They are a muscular breed and have a solid sturdy bone structure. The breed is one of the heavier and thicker types of domesticated cats. Turkish kittens have thin tails and do not develop the breed’s characteristic full tail until later in maturity.

Turkish Vans are known for their luxurious silky coat. The coat only has a single layer and varies in thickness depending upon the seasons.

The Turkish Van’s eye color ranges from blue to amber. Some kittens even develop eyes that each have a different color also known as being odd-eyed.

Colors

Turkish Vans are known for their distinctive “van” markings. Van markings are characterized by the presence of a white or cream colored body and a colored face and tail. The colored portion on the face and tail varies in color. It can be cream, auburn, brown, black, or blue-toned. There may also be a white stripe of fur present from the tip of the nose extending up between the eyes continuing to the back of the head.

Temperament

Turkish Vans are known to be great swimmers. Don’t be surprised to see that your kitten loves to watch water drip from the bathroom or kitchen faucet. Despite their love of water, most Turkish Van kittens have little opportunity to go swimming in their daily lives.

Turkish Vans are extremely active and playful kittens. They love to play fetch and will create toys out of almost any object. The breed loves to climb and will scale high-points in a home.

Overall, Turkish Vans are very loyal and almost dog-like in terms of their attachment to their owners. Being very smart creatures, they can sense when their owners are upset or feeling down. Turkish Vans will lend a paw of support for their owners.

Most Turkish Vans do not like to be carried around. They prefer to stay on all four paws where they can feel supported. However, that does not stop a Turkish kitten from curling up in its owner’s lap for extra hugs and rubs.

Care

Despite having relatively long hair, Turkish Vans are easy to care for. Unlike many other long-haired feline breeds, Turkish Van fur is silky and has no undercoat. Because their fur is so silky, it does not mat as readily as other breeds.

In addition, Turkish Vans are meticulous about cleaning their fur. So bathing for the most part is not needed unless the kitten is extremely dirty. Simple and basic combing every other day is all that’s needed to keep the Turkish Van’s coat looking glossy.

Note that the Van’s coat thickness varies depending upon the season. Winter is a time of heavier, thicker coats. Spring and summer lend themselves to thinner coats.

Development

Turkish Van kittens are late bloomers. Usually, a Turkish Van kitten does not reach full maturity until 4 to 5 years of age.

Health

Overall, Turkish Vans are a healthy and well-adjusted breed. They have very few known genetic abnormalities. Like any other breed, they need routine vet visits to make sure they stay healthy and get vaccinations.

Remember…Turkish Van kittens are affectionate and resilient felines.

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