";s:4:"text";s:2376:" The Turkish Van is a striking, silky cat with a white body and colored head and tail. The breed is known for its unique, distinctive pattern; the term “Van” has been adopted by a variety of breeds to describe white cats with colored head and tail markings. They have long, strong legs, massive rounded paws and well-defined muscles, which allow them to be very strong jumpers. A Turkish Van is a large, muscular cat known for its love of water. The Turkish Van is also known as the “swimming cat” and should not be confused with the Turkish Angora. ; Longevity: 13-17 yrs. The Turkish Van is beautiful and rare with a very playful personality. This breed has a soft, white coat with a colored tail and colored ears. You can also identify a Turkish Van by its facial structure, body type, and head shape. True to its name, it's thought to hail from modern-day Turkey’s eastern Lake Van region. Sweet natured, friendly and intelligent, this is a sociable cat with a quiet voice. Weight: male: 10-12 lbs. Turkish Van At a Glance. Personality. A Turkish Van has blue or gold eyes, and sometimes will have one of each color. The two breeds are quite different in a number of features including size, coat, and personality. These are proud, thoughtful cats that are a nice choice for a quiet household preferrably without dogs or children. The Turkish Van will enjoy living with a family, especially one that has a pond or a swimming pool. ; Colors: white with dark coloring on head and tail and sometimes on the back of the neck (referred to as the "Van pattern"); Pattern: rings on the tail; a "thumbprint" on shoulder blades; Eye color: bright amber or blue Females typically weigh 7 to 12 and males can weigh 10 to 20 pounds. The personality of the Turkish Van is cat-like and sometimes a little aloof. Appearance. Female: 7-10 lbs.
Turkish Vans, despite their robust size, can be a little timid and may be very sensitive to loud people or rough handling.