Beautiful kittens with cashmere-soft fur, Turkish Van cats are well-known for their playful personalities and quirky behavior.
You should have plans in place to keep your Turkish Van cat entertained if you are considering bringing one into your home. They are not good if left alone for too long. However, these cats can bond with dogs and other felines.
Although Turkish Van cats are very friendly when children behave properly, they have their boundaries. They are more interested in active, playful interactions than holding or cuddling.
They also don’t tolerate hair pulling, mishandling, or excessive cuddling. They are sensitive to handling and will sometimes lie on their backs for TV.
A Turkish Van is a great choice for anyone looking for a friendly cat who loves to spend time with their family.
These cats are happy to follow their owners around the house and wait for an opportunity to help them with paperwork or washing dishes.
These cats love water so their families often bring them along to the bathroom. A slow drip from a faucet can make a Turkish Van cat happy.
These mesmerizing drips are almost certain to keep your cat entertained!
These cats make great entertainment and are excellent jumpers. They don’t like spending too much time on the ground. They love window seats and require a high cat condo.
They will take up space on your desk or china cabinet and knock important items to the ground if they don’t have high enough perches.
Contents
Turkish Van Cat Overview
| Temperament | Active, affectionate, personable, playful |
| Origin | Turkey |
| Other Names | The Swimming Cat |
| Group | Large long-haired |
| Height | 9″- 11″ |
| Body Length | 14″-17″ |
| Weight | 7-20 pounds |
| Life Expectancy | 12-17 years |
| Price | $800 – $1500 |
What Are the Initial Costs of Owning a Turkish Van?
Because of the rarity of this breed, it is difficult to find a kitten. In fact, there are only a few catteries in North America.
Breeders who keep Turkish Vans on their farms won’t release kittens or sell them without conducting a thorough background check of potential buyers.
They may even refuse to sell kittens if they don’t meet the requirements.
The Turkish Van cat’s price range is from $400 to $1,100. You can find a variety of Turkish Vans on the Oodle Marketplace.
These range from purebreds to mixed breeds. Make sure to read all descriptions to ensure you fully understand what you are buying.
If the worst happens, you have one last option: find breeders abroad and arrange for shipping once your cat is old enough to travel.
Shipping costs will be borne by the buyer, so this option is more expensive.
News Now classifieds list purebred Turkish Vans for sale in the UK at £100 to £600, or around $129 to $774.
You can also buy Turkish Vans that have been crossbred with other breeds within this range, with the most expensive being at around £650 (or $838).
Happy Tails Travel offers domestic shipping starting at $225 and ending at $425. This includes Alaska and Puerto Rico. For those arriving from other countries, the charge will be $250-500.
These rates are only indicative and do not include airfare, travel to and from the airport, customs fees, or any health checks.
Depending on the airline chosen and the distance traveled, additional airfare pricing may be available from $450 up to $3,500.
Turkish Van Buying Guide
It can be difficult to find a good Turkish Van breeder in the United States. How do you know if your cattery is a good one? What are the indicators or red flags you should be looking out for?
This checklist covers the most important traits you should look for in a responsible breeder. It also includes tips on how to make the best buying decision.
- In case of emergency, they should offer a minimum one-year health guarantee
- Make sure you check the living space and make sure the cats don’t live in cages. They won’t like living in cramped spaces.
- Kittens must be registered with the ACFA, TICA, or CFA.
- If a litter is not available when you call, don’t be surprised if potential buyers are asked to wait. Turkish Vans have only a few litters per year.
- Be aware that a breeder may be selling kittens at a lower price. This could indicate that he is trying to minimize costs by giving the kitten less care.
- Do not buy the “runt of the litter” just because you feel sorry about it
- You should inspect your purchase for ticks, fleas, and other parasites. If you find any, please notify the breeder immediately.
Things to Know When Owning a Turkish Van
Food & Diet Requirements
The Turkish Van doesn’t require any special diet. They are a natural cat breed but don’t need to be fed raw food.
This breed is a great choice for high-quality commercial cat food.
This breed would live in the wild off mice and other prey animals. It is best to give them commercial cat food, which is primarily made from animal products.
It doesn’t really matter what type of meat you choose unless your cat is allergic to it, such as chicken.
Exercise
These cats are often described as being very active by their owners. This is understandable, given that they were wild-bred. After all, wild cats are more active than domestic cats.
The Turkish Van, unlike other breeds, isn’t content to stay at home all day. They require regular physical activity, or they’ll hang from your curtains.
Training
The Turkish Van is smart and people-oriented. They are easy to train because of these traits. They are one of the easiest cats to train.
It is easy to teach your cat how to walk on a lead and what commands they should be using. Some dogs may be able to outperform this cat breed. They are so good.
Grooming
The Turkish Van is a unique breed. They are technically both short-haired. It all depends on what you ask.
Their winter coats are thick and long. They lose a lot of their fur in the summer and have a shorter hair length. This is a rare breed of cat, but most cats shed some fur in the spring to prepare for warmer months.
Health and Conditions
The Turkish Van is almost entirely free of genetic problems. Because they were born wild and not through any human-led breeding, they are extremely healthy cats.
They are not deaf like other Turkish cats. There is currently no scientific evidence to support the claim that these cats are more likely than other cats to go deaf.
The Breed Standard
BODY
Turkish Van cats should look balanced and well-built. They should have strong, muscular, sturdy, deep-chested, and broad bodies. Males are more delicate than females.
HEAD
The head should have a wide wedge shape with gentle contours. The muzzle should be round, the chin should not be too firm and the cheekbones prominent.
EARS
Turkish Van cats should have medium-sized ears. They should be placed high on the head and spaced well apart. The interior should be well-furnished and the tips should be slightly rounded.
COAT
The coat should be semi-long and have no undercoat. The summer coat is shorter and denser than the winter coat. Some people may seem almost short-haired in the summer months.
COLOR
Turkish Van cats must be white with symmetrical, or almost symmetrical, color patches on their heads and tails.
Up to 15% of the body may be covered by random markings. All Turkish Vans should have pink nose leather. Paw pads should also be pink.
EYES
Eyes should be medium-large, round, and set at an angle. You can accept blue, amber, and other eye colors.
LEGS & PAWS
Legs should be medium-long with strong muscle. The feet should be medium-sized and proportioned to the rest.
TAIL
Turkish Van cats should have a long, well-proportioned, and flowing tail that blends well with the rest of their coat.
Kitten Names
| Rank | Male | Female |
| 01 | Chloe | Angel |
| 02 | Oliver | Princess |
| 03 | Tigger | Molly |
| 04 | Coco | Tippy |
| 05 | Tommy | Lily |
| 06 | Gavin | Alice |
| 07 | Chunk | Sophie |
| 08 | Gracie | Kitkat |
| 09 | Diesel | Chloe |
| 10 | Olley | Sasha |
Final Thoughts
The Turkish Van is an uncommon breed, and it comes from Turkey. They developed naturally in the wild, unlike other breeds. They are practical cats, therefore they are often very well-suited for this purpose.
They are social cats and can be very person-oriented. Turkish Vans can adapt to many different homes. As long as they are socialized at a young age, Turkish Vans can get along with dogs and children.
The Turkish Van is extremely healthy due to their past. We know that they aren’t susceptible to any genetic conditions. They are rare, so it is possible that we haven’t yet discovered their predispositions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Turkish Van cat cost?
Turkish Van cats cost between $800 – $1500.
How big do Turkish Van cats get?
How long do Turkish Van cats live?
The average lifespan for a Turkish Van is 12-17 years.
Do Turkish Van cats shed?
Turkish Van cats are long-haired and can shed a lot.