ivy

As this comes under ask a question. I wondered how many people know what is special about the Turkish Van Cat?

I will be interested to know later who knows.

kadin

I know I know! I used to have a lilac point siamese and an abysinian. The Siamese was a very jealous cat and the abysinian - well nobody when near that one - quite violent!

Yes in my cat collecting phase I know about the Turkish Van! Lovely cute kitties. People try to bring them over here or usually tell someone to get one for them.

Is it the blue eye brown eye that long ago now I can't remember but there is something weird about them - look on the net and find out!

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kadin

http://www.vantasia.org/turks.html go to this link and find out.

kadin

TURKISH VAN CATS
CHARACTER AND PERSONALITY

The Turkish Van is a loyal, loving and very intelligent cat. Its temperament depends greatly on its upbringing, the amount of human contact and handling it receives as a kitten, and the temperament of the mother herself. They are very affectionate, giving head butts and love bites, but to the uninitiated this could be slightly alarming, but when you get to know your cat you will begin to understand.

They are great climbers, so don't be surprised to find them sitting on top of doors, kitchen units or wardrobes, and some wouldn't think twice about climbing your curtains and sitting on the curtain rail. A great game is retrieving screwed up paper, some catching the ball of paper in mid flight, others making great somersaults.

Where water is concerned, some are not very keen at all, whereas others may love dripping taps, especially drinking from them, then flicking the water with their paws, or dropping toys into their water bowl. It has been known for Turks to swim in the bath, swimming pool or even the sea. So be warned they may come and join in your daily shower. They may also become curious about toilets, so DON'T LEAVE THE LID UP!

They like to be involved in everything their owners do and follow them around like a dog. In fact some people have said that Turkish Vans are more like dogs than cats. On the whole, they get on very well with dogs indeed, but the Turk will want to be the boss. In most instances the females are more independent and if you have a male and female, she will normally rule the roost, but there are always the exceptions.

Of course, as with all things in life there are a few downsides. Turks have been known to wreak havoc, such as shredding curtains, knocking ornaments and plants off shelves, mantelpieces and kitchen surfaces etc., sometimes this is quite deliberate! Also they have the ability to open doors, especially cupboards etc. and don't think twice about knocking the contents onto the floor. We know of one family who previously owned Persians, and they thought they could be naughty! Nothing had prepared them for their Turkish pair, their home will never quite be the same again, but they love the cats to bits and wouldn't part with them for the world, they are affectionately known as the 'B Team'.

It appears to most owners that the Turkish Vans can be sensitive to certain sounds, and some are so sensitive that they appear to be nervous and will run and hide. On a cautionary note, don't catch a Turk unawares from behind, if startled they have been known to bite.

Travelling is another story. Some are very well behaved, others can be extremely vocal, sick or even mess themselves! There are various treatments available but they are not always as successful as we would like.

There have been many Turks that have been lead trained and enjoy their walks with their human owners, perhaps through country woods (one Turk even has a squirrel as a friend). They may even enjoy a paddle in a stream. The beach is another place of enjoyment, but beware of the strong winds, some Turks are very wary of them.


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ivy

Thanks Kadin.Thank you for all that information on the website. I am going to read it all. Guess what it gives an organisation of kittens for sale.

The photograph on the web is a ginger and white cat with an appealing intelligent looking face.

The answer I was looking for is that they are able to swim something about Lake Van if I remember.

Trevor

Their behaviour reminds me of my 2 old cats, i loved them to bits - so much so that they are stll on my mantlepiece in their (affectionately called)catskets.

kadin

Awwww I have a story surrounding on of my cats I had to have put down nearly two years ago which found me receiving medicines and the like from a lovely lady in New York. She sent me all kinds of meds to my cat here that I couldn't get from my vet. I nursed my poor cat through a terminal illness for 6 months until I finally had to have him put down. Cost me a fortune in vets bills, money that I did not have, but the lady in New York asked nothing from me. Now that is truly an[8)] Angel.[8)] After my cat had been put to sleep she just disappeared and I've never been able to contact that lady since.


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Lynda

I don't have a Van kedi but I have an intelligent rescues puss. This one also likes toilets & will sit watching you (miaows if you don't hurry) till you flush the toilet, she then drinks the running water - totally ignores the fresh water I put down. Very embarrassing when she does this to guests [:I]- I have not fiqured out how she opens the doors[]

kadin

My cat Rosie is a little cow, very much a house cat (unfortunately)wont go out, goes hysterical if you put her on the yard wall like the worlds coming to an end, comes back in like she's on an elastic band, you can see the cogs turning in her head, bloody pest when it comes to food will she won't she eat it, you can tell which people in the supermarket have got fussy gits for cats, they are the ones that stand blankly staring at the rows of cat food on the shelves trying to figure out if the tin they buy will be consumed by their darling little ***** at home or will the cat leg it away after one sniff of the stuff, in which case you end up throwing firstly at the cat and then secondly in the bin and of course those damn pouches now, word must get round in moggie land becaue after 11 years of eating tinned food my cat won't touch the stuff and demands pouches only arrrghh! so at 12 she is still very naughty. She's like one of those spoilt ones off the disney films and thinks she the queen of sheba. We have a love hate relationship does me and Rosie[}]





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