Turkish Van
Curious, Turkish Vans want to be with their owner participating in whatever is happening, and so they may follow a person from room to room. While Turkish vans are affectionate to their family members, these are not normally lap cats. They may lie next to their owners and will happily allow themselves to be petted, but this is not a breed that tolerates being picked up and often wants to be near their owner, not on their owner.
The Turkish Van is a semi-long-haired, standardised breed of domestic cat, which was developed in the United Kingdom from a selection of cats obtained from various cities of modern Turkey, especially southeast Turkey. The breed is rare, is one of the larger breeds, and is distinguished by the Van pattern (named after the breed), where the colour is restricted to the head and the tail, and the rest of the cat is white; this is due to the expression of the piebald white spotting gene, a type of partial leucism.. A Turkish Van may have blue or amber eyes, or be odd-eyed (having one eye of each colour).
The breed was first recognized by the UK-based Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF), in 1969, and was later renamed Turkish Van to better distinguish it from the Turkish Angora breed. The Turkish Van has been claimed to be descended from (and is often confused with) the landrace of usually all-white Van cats, mostly found near Lake Van.
These active and athletic felines love to climb, jump and explore. Although they might curl up with you for the occasional cuddle, Turkish vans are more likely to be found roaming the house and following you from room to room, looking for adventure. One unique characteristic of the Turkish van cat is its love of water. The Turkish van is often called the “swimming cat.
The Turkish van is an ancient breed that’s rare even in its native place of origin. It developed naturally in the region of central and southwest Asia (the present-day countries of Iran, Iraq, and parts of the Soviet Union and Turkey). The breed name comes from the name of a lake and a city in the region, both called Van, and the original cats were simply called “vancats.”
The first Turkish van to leave the region arrived in England in 1955 and was finally introduced in the United States in 1982. The breed is recognized by the Cat Fanciers’ Association and The International Cat Association.
Although the Turkish van and Turkish angora look similar, they are distinct breeds that developed independently of one another. The Turkish angora is smaller and finer-boned than the Turkish van and comes in more colors and patterns.
HYPOALLERGENIC: No
The elegantly built oriental longhair, also known as the British angora, resembles its relative the Siamese but has a much more recent history, officially recognized by the Cat Fanciers' Association in 1995. Its long, silky coat comes in an outstanding array of color and pattern combinations, and the cat is as personable as it is pretty. This curious, easygoing, and talkative breed is best suited to a home with lots of people or an extremely dedicated single owner. The oriental longhair loves company and hates to be left alone for long.
Rex, Abyssinian and Turkish cats Hardcover – January 1, 1974
by Alison E Ashford & Grace Pond F.Z.S. (Author)
Turkish Angora
Turkish Angora Domestic cat (Felis catus) at the Atatürk
Forest Farm and Zoo in Ankara. The zoo breeds and sells Turkish Angora cats
The Turkish Angora (Turkish: Ankara kedisi, 'Ankara cat') is a breed of domestic cat. Turkish Angoras are one of the ancient, natural breeds of cat, having originated in central Anatolia (Ankara Province in modern-day Turkey). The breed has been documented as early as the 17th century. Outside of the United States, the breed is usually referred to as simply the Angora or Ankara cat. These cats have slender and elegant bodies. In the winter they are perfectly camouflaged in the snow and are often mistaken for a snow weasel as they grow fairly long. A natural breed that originated in Turkey as early as the 15th century, Turkish Angoras were long considered to be solid white cats with blue or green eyes. Today, however, it's widely accepted that Turkish Angoras can come in a variety of colors and variations, including Himalayan, calico, tortoiseshell, and tabby. A Turkish Angoras has a friendly and sociable personality, so it thrives in a home with lots of love and attention. Compared to other cats, the Turkish angora is somewhat needy and doesn't like to be left alone. It appreciates the constant company of its owner or other pets.
Turkish Angoras also have a lot of energy and can get into mischief—especially when bored. Opening cabinets, turning on faucets, or knocking things off tables are just a sampling of the orneriness an Angoras might exhibit when it wants a little more attention.
Like all domestic cats, Turkish Angoras descended from the African wildcat (Felis lybica). Their ancestors were among the cats that were first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent. Angoras were originally considered strictly white cats with blue or green eyes. Today, the breed standard includes a variety of colors and variations, including Himalayan, calico, tortoiseshell, and tabby with virtually any eye color.
Longhaired cats were imported to Britain and France from Asia Minor, Persia, and Russia as early as the late 16th century. The Turkish Angora was recognized as a distinct breed in Europe by the 17th century. However, there is a strong connection between Angoras and Persians. Charles Catton, in the 1788 book Animals Drawn from Nature and Engraved in Aqua-tinta, gave "Persian cat" and "Angora cat" as alternative names for the same breed.
The Persian cat was developed from Turkish Angora mutations by British and American cat breeders. In 1903, F. Simpson wrote in The Book of the Cat:
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In classing all long-haired cats as Persians I may be wrong,
but the distinctions, apparently with hardly any difference, between Angoras
and Persians are of so fine a nature that I must be pardoned if I ignore the
class of cat commonly called Angora, which seems gradually to have disappeared
from our midst. Certainly, at our large shows there is no special
classification given for Angoras, and in response to many inquiries from animal
fanciers I have never been able to obtain any definite information as to the
difference between a Persian and an Angora.
The Angora of the 20th century was used for improvement in
the Persian coat, but the type has always been divergent from the Persian –
particularly as the increasingly flat-faced show cat Persian has been developed
in the last few decades.
In the early 20th century, Atatürk Forest Farm and Zoo began
a breeding program to protect and preserve pure white Angoras. The zoo
particularly prized odd-eyed specimens; however, the cats were chosen only for
their color – no other criterion was applied.
The Turkish Angora, which was brought to Canada in 1963, was accepted as a championship pedigreed breed in 1973 by the Cat Fanciers' Association. However, until 1978 only white Angoras were recognized. Today, all North American registries accept the Turkish Angora in many colors and patterns. While their numbers are still relatively small, the gene pool is continually growing.[citation needed]
Breeders in Turkey feel that the cat's fine-boned version of
its natural breed is unrepresentative of the true Turkish cats, which are much
sturdier. American "Turkish" Angoras have only a minimal remnant of
the original Atatürk Forest Farm and Zoo DNA, and are only "purebred on
paper"
Known for their long, ballerina-like bodies and silky fur, Turkish Angoras are considered treasures in their homeland of Turkey. Despite their delicate appearance and relatively small size, however, Turkish Angoras are affectionate and playful with their owners, children, and other pets (as long as the other pets know that the Angora is the boss).
HYPOALLERGENIC: Yes
Legends trace Turkish Angoras back to Mohammad, founder of
the Islamic faith, who adored cats, and once cut off his sleeve to avoid disrupting
the tabby-patterned Turkish Angora sleeping in his arms.
The earliest written reference to Turkish Angora cats dates back to 16th century France, so it's commonly accepted that Turkish Angoras began moving into Britain and France during the late 15th century. By the 1700s, Turkish Angoras were imported to the Americas.
Turkish Angoras were exhibited at some of the first cat shows in the late 19th century, and Persian breeds began to incorporate them into their breeding programs. This, unfortunately, caused Turkish angora populations to dwindle throughout Europe. In response, Turkish Angoras became the "treasures" of Turkey, and a breeding program was established at the Ankara Zoo to preserve them.
During the 1950s, American servicemen stationed in Turkey were captivated by the zoo's Turkish Angoras. Although the breeding program was hesitant to give up any of its cats, two were gifted to Colonel and Mrs. Walter Grant. These cats became the foundation of the American Turkish angora breeding program. Over the years, more Americans brought Turkish angoras home and propagated the breed through the United States.
The Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) began to accept white Turkish Angoras in 1968, but colored varieties weren't registered until 1978. Today, Turkish Angoras are also recognized by the International Cat Fanciers Association.
Angoras were originally considered strictly white cats with blue or green eyes. Today, the breed standard includes a variety of colors and variations, including Himalayan, calico, tortoiseshell, and tabby with virtually any eye color.
The Turkish van is an ancient breed that’s rare even in its
native place of origin. It developed naturally in the region of central and
southwest Asia (the present-day countries of Iran, Iraq, and parts of the
Soviet Union and Turkey). The breed name comes from the name of a lake and a
city in the region, both called Van, and the original cats were simply called
“vancats.”
The first Turkish van to leave the region arrived in England
in 1955. At first, the breed was referred to simply as the Turkish cat, but due
to confusion between the Turkish van and the Turkish angora, the breed name
Turkish van was eventually adopted.
The Turkish van was finally introduced in the United States in 1982. The breed is recognized by the Cat Fanciers’ Association and The International Cat Association.
Although the Turkish van and Turkish angora look similar, they are distinct breeds that developed independently of one another. The Turkish angora is smaller and finer-boned than the Turkish van and comes in more colors and patterns.
(tabby)[2]
We can say that the tabby cat is one of the most common cats among the cat breeds. Although these cats are also kept at home, most of the cats on the streets are tabby cats. Tabby cat has hybrid characteristics. It is not a pure breed. In terms of features, it is the same as other cats in many ways. This breed, which does not consist of just one breed, consists of many different types of cats. So much so that it is very difficult to say exactly which cat breeds emerged with the mating.
Turkish Sarman (orange tabby)
Some say the tabby originated with the Mau, an ancient Egyptian breed developed from the domestication of the African wildcat. Its modern descendant is the Egyptian Mau, which bears a tabby pattern. Perhaps the most distinctive feature seen in the Mau and other tabby cats is the vague marking of the letter "M" on their foreheads.
According to a Biblical legend, a tabby visited the manger. When Mary asked the stable animals to surround the manger and warm baby Jesus, a little tabby cat nestled next to the baby with soothing warmth and purrs. Mary was so grateful she bestowed her initial, "M," on the cat's forehead.
Islamic legends tell of how much Mohammed loved cats. He once cut off a sleeve of a garment when he had to leave to attend prayer rather than disturb his cat, Muezza, who was sleeping upon the sleeve. Such stories assume that Mohammed bestowed the "M" marking on tabbies to symbolize his adoration. Today, cats are still generally protected and respected in the Islamic world; they are even permitted inside mosques.
The word "tabby" was originally an English name for striped silk fabric in the 17th and 18th centuries. It was first used to describe striped cats in the 1690s. In 1871, a 21-pound "English tabby" was documented as having appeared at the very first cat show in the world held at the Crystal Palace in London.
[1] cat (n.) Old English catt (c. 700) "domestic cat," from West Germanic (c. 400-450), from Proto-Germanic *kattuz (source also of Old Frisian katte, Old Norse köttr, Dutch kat, Old High German kazza, German Katze), from Late Latin cattus.
The near-universal European word now, it appeared in Europe as Latin catta (Martial, c. 75 C.E.), Byzantine Greek katta (c. 350) and was in general use on the continent by c. 700, replacing Latin feles. Probably ultimately Afro-Asiatic (compare Nubian kadis, Berber kadiska, both meaning "cat"). Arabic qitt "tomcat" may be from the same source. Cats were domestic in Egypt from c. 2000 B.C.E., but not a familiar household animal to classical Greeks and Romans. The nine lives have been proverbial at least since 1560s.
The Late Latin word also is the source of Old Irish and Gaelic cat, Welsh kath, Breton kaz, Italian gatto, Spanish gato, French chat (12c.). Independent, but ultimately from the same source are words in the Slavic group: Old Church Slavonic kotuka, kotel'a, Bulgarian kotka, Russian koška, Polish kot, along with Lithuanian katė and non-Indo-European Finnish katti, which is from Lithuanian.
Extended to lions, tigers, etc. c. 1600. As a term of contempt for a woman, from early 13c. Slang sense of "prostitute" is from at least c. 1400. Slang sense of "fellow, guy," is from 1920, originally in African-American vernacular; narrower sense of "jazz enthusiast" is recorded from 1931.
Cat's paw (1769, but cat's foot in the same sense, 1590s) refers to the old folk tale in which the monkey tricks the cat into pawing chestnuts from a fire; the monkey gets the roasted nuts, the cat gets a burnt paw. Cat burglar is from 1907, so called for stealth. Cat-witted "small-minded, obstinate, and spiteful" (1670s) deserved to survive. For Cat's meow, cat's pajamas, see bee's knees. For let the cat out of the bag, see bag (n.).
[2] tabby (n.) 1630s, "striped silk taffeta," from French tabis "a rich, watered silk" (originally striped), earlier atabis (14c.), from Arabic 'attabi, from 'Attabiyah, a neighborhood of Baghdad where such cloth was made, said to be named for prince 'Attab of the Omayyad dynasty. As an adjective from 1630s.
Tabby cat, one with a striped coat, is attested from 1690s; shortened form tabby first attested 1774. "The wild original of the domestic cat is always of such coloration" [Century Dictionary]. Sense of "female cat" (1826) may be influenced by the fem. proper name Tabby, a pet form of Tabitha, which was used in late 18c. as slang for "spiteful spinster, difficult old woman."