Turkish Van Cat
Solidly built, strong and powerful with a wide chest. The Turk is slow to mature, taking as much as three to five years before reaching full growth. The males can reach up to 20 pounds or more however, so this is not a small cat. The breed was first brought into Europe from the Middle East by returning crusaders, and has been known by a variety of names over the centuries including the white ringtail and the Russian longhair. A common misconception is that the Turkish Van is simply a color variation of the better known Turkish Angora. They are actually two distinct breeds that were developed in different regions of Turkey.
The term “van pattern” referring to piebald cats which have a specific pattern over a white coat. The contrasting color may be solid or tabby (red, cream, black, blue), particolor (tortoiseshell, dilute tortoiseshell, patched tabby, dilute patched tabby) and smoke colors. Most cats stay relatively clean and rarely need a bath, but they do need to be brushed or combed to stimulate blood circulation and promote good health. A grooming glove or mitten can make this process as simply as daily petting.
