The Van cat, known in United States as the Turkish Van, and in Armenian “vana katu,” is a distinctive breed of a domestic cat found mainly in the Van province of eastern Turkey.
This very unique cat is a natural breed, so there hasn’t been human interference or cross-breeding in its lineage. Apart from their beauty, gracefulness and alert intelligence, the outstanding characteristic feature of Van cats is their love for water, which is far from being regarded as a feline attribute. Another interesting thing about the Van cat’s appearance is its eyes–one is blue, while the other is amber
The Van cat requires no special cat diet or grooming, notwithstanding the fact that it has long hair. It can easily be called “a family cat” and you can adopt this cat without worrying.
A fully grown (3-5 year-old) Van cat weighs about 12 pounds, but sometimes males can reach 16-19 pounds. So you can’t really snuggle with these guys. The price of these cats vary widely depending on the geographical location and can fluctuate between $350 to $600 for a kitten.
This cat breed was first imported in the US in 1982. They are still being imported, but the imports are rare, because this breed is considered a national treasure in its homeland.
Debates concerning the heritage of the Van cat have been going on between the nations of Turkey and Armenia for a long time.
Yet, genetic research shows that this cat breed originated about 10,000 years ago. Therefore, the Van cat must have a more ancient origin than the ethnic groups now inhabiting the region around Lake Van.
For sure, due to its large size and uncharacteristic love of water, the Van cat can be considered an exotic pet. But if you are a lover of felines, you might want to keep one at home, especially if you live nearby a lake.
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