Does anyone have a Turkish Van cat?

[XNASA]

We believe that we do. We got Romulus from a shelter about 10 months ago and he's the most entertaining cat we've ever had or known.



Turkish Vans love the water. They love to climb. We find him up in the trees, on top of the fridge (a place you'd sweat that he could never get to). They're super friendly and will follow you around like a dog. I've heard that they're the most dog-like of all the cat breeds.

Fluffytail is a Van Tuxedo we believe. He looks a lot like Sylvester in his markings. Huge fluffy tail that is as long as the rest of his body, hence his nickname....Fluffytail.

I don't usually post about our cat, but he's been a real character lately and.............I'm bored out of my mind.

[demnan]

1. Does your cat like water?

Like Ellie May's on the Beverly Hillbillies? The most famous T.V. Van cat.

Well we want pictures of Fluffytail and if he goes swimming we'll see.

[XNASA]

5. He enjoys the shower.

I've never actually seen him swim, but he doesn't seem to mind the water. He sometimes walks the edges of the bathtub while someone is showering and seems to enjoy getting wet.

I've seen him just sitting in the backyard during a rain as well.

I'd like to get a good pic of him, but his face is black around his eyes and he always appears to be wearing a hood. He looks like a skunk. B&W, and his fur is longer on his back legs than on his front. And the fur on his tail is really long, just like a Van.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. I got a cat from a shelter

that they said was a Van, though the Van web sites suggest you won't find them in shelters becasue they are too uncommon. But mine has all the characteristics (except a bit too much orange on his back) -- plays with water, extremely friendly and dog-like, soft fur with no undercoat, amber eyes, very long, fluffy tail. I might never know if he's a real Van, but he's a hoot.

[XNASA]

7. Yep. Sounds just like Fluffytail.

Except for the coloring.

Really friendly. The best part is, we got him to chase our old female mixed Russian Blue around. She was lonely and bored and getting overweight. Fluffytail has been great for her.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. My cat, Milo, retrieves.

Relentlessly. Throw a toy and he brings it back, over and over and over. And he'll wade in the bathtub if the water isn't too deep, and steal the stopper. He's deranged. I love him.

[XNASA]

8. I heard that in the 80's....American breeders tried to develop...

Chinese Harlequin cats using Vans.

Chinese Harlequin's are supposedly a a mythical cat that may or may not have really existed. They show up in a lot of ancient Chinese art. Anyway, back in the 80's breeders tried to replicate them using Tuxedo Vans. I think that Fluffytail my be a remnant of that experiment. I'm sure he's not a purebred Van.

Possibly? :shrug:

[Lorien]

3. I have a Turkish Angora

similar personalities, but she only splashes in water, and doesn't actually take dips.

Turkish cats are among the most intelligent-and eccentric-breeds. My little Puck just charms the heck out of every visitor she meets!

[sus]

4. he's BEAUTIFUL!

that picture of him swimming is priceless.

[XNASA]

6. Actually, those are real Van cats in the pics.

Fluffytail is a tuxedo. I just used the pics for examples. I should have noted it.