Turkish Van - anyone have one?

[justginger]

We've just picked up our newest foster cat and she's...quite unique. She was flown here from one of the northern Western Australia towns because the vet there had no room for her, but couldn't bear to see her put down. Good idea...because now we think she's probably pregnant as well. She's rounded out and firmed up since arriving at the first port of call here in Perth and has become defensive of people touching her stomach area. I was patting her last night and she gave me a cobra-fast whack with her paw when I tried to ascertain if she's losing hair around her nipples. No claws, just a good smack. Got my attention! She'll be staying with us through her pregnancy, birth, and the rehoming of her kittens.

Anyway, I think she might be a Turkish Van. I know everyone in the world tries to find breed characteristics in their mog/mutts, but this one is particularly convincing. She's semi-long haired, primarily white. The color she has is a gorgeous dark/light ginger - solid on her tail, and blotches all over her head, top of shoulders, a bit down her back. A true Van should not have this extra body coloring, but both of her sides and entire stomach remain pure white. She has a SINGLE layer of uniform fur, no undercoat, no topcoat. It is SO incredibly soft that I'm considering naming her Cashmere. She is solidly built and can jump to the top of the scratching post from the ground, no lead up - a distance of about 6 feet. And, most tellingly, she loves water. Likes standing in it, like playing with it, likes sitting in it, likes drinking from a faucet going full bore. Her fur seems nearly completely water-resistant - she sat in a full basin last night and was dry within 10 minutes.

Regardless of what she is, she seems very self-assured, intelligent, highly curious, and affectionate. Very interested in seeing what's going on in the rest of the house (she's quarantined in the laundry), and loves a good head rub. I'm going to have to be careful with this one...I can see her turning us into a 3 permanent cat household!!

I'll post pictures in a bit when she gets up from her nap. When she sleeps, it's like she's comatose!

 

[Lottie]

Sounds like a Turkish Van to me. Looking forward to seeing pictures - she sounds beautiful.

 

[GlamMosher]

aww she sounds gorgeous justginger! i have never heard of Turkish Vans so googled them, they looked beautiful.

I am looking forward to seeing photos.

(BTW our 2 seem to have come to Mexican standoff. Not fighting so much, but not in love yet either. )

 

[justginger]

Well, add temperamental to the list of characteristics. Turned on the tap for her just a bit ago and she looked at the water and walked off. I have no idea what she is, but I could just stroke that fur for hours...





And another quick one of the foster baby of the family, little Oh. She's so gorgeous, I hate that it'll only be a couple of weeks before she can head off to a forever home. This is her, trying to catch a fish for Easter dinner.



Glam, I'm glad your two are living in harmony. Sometimes it takes a bit of time for them to build a relationship. My resident cat (and apple of my eye), Leta, is generally friendly with all of our fosters, but really didn't like Oh at first. They've had some ripper tussles, but all is well now - they had a nice nap together on my bed today.

 

[mary poppins]

I thought this thread was going to be about a mini van or some type of vehicle. What a surprise to find it's about a cat! She's absolutely adorable.

 

[tyty333]

She is lovely no matter what she is. Kittens will be so much fun! I want one!!!

 

[GlamMosher]

Justginger, she is beautiful and looks a lovey natured girl too.

On a side note, I have a huge bag of kitty litter (the pellets, not crystals) that I am not using. I bought it as I thought Dolly wasn't going to the tray and I thought maybe she didn't like the crystals. So I bought a tray for her and these pellets, only to find her little poos in her brothers tray. I have used one tray of it, so it is nearly full. I don't like the pellets as they make a mess, but would you like the bag? The lady i got Dolly from said she uses chicken feed! But she is too far away for me to drop it in to.

Hubby said I am not allowed to put it in the shed (what's with that???), so if you don't want it, I will have to put it in the bin.

If you would like the bag, you are welcome to it, or if you know someone who will want it! I am on DB as Glammosher if you want to contact me off this list.

 

[Imdanny]

Beautiful cat! What a nice thing you are doing.

A family fostered my cat before I got her from the shelter at 9 weeks. She was hand raised so she's always been taken care of by people. That's had a very positive effect. She is very easy to take care of because of it.

She turned out to be an Egyptian Mau. Her stomach was shaved and I saw the spots on her skin. I noticed her spots and stipes right away but I didn't find out for weeks that she was a purebred anything. It's been fun! They have very distinct personality traits and she is exactly what I was looking for in a cat. I never would have paid for a cat. I was very lucky.

I saw a YouTube video with an Egyptian Mau. That's when I realized she was one. Then I checked the breed standard list at CFA and she met every criterion.

You can do that here:

http://www.cfainc.org/client/breeds.aspx

Click on Beed Standard under Turkish Van

The front page is here:

http://www.cfainc.org/client/home.aspx

Please forgive me if you have already seen this list but maybe someone reading has a purebred cat and doesn't know it. It happens!

It's clear to me just looking at the first picture on the breed profile page:

http://www.cfainc.org/Client/breedTurkishVan.aspx

you are right about this.

I love orange cats. I'd like to have one someday.

 

[iheartscience]

Wow, what a gorgeous girl! I think you're right, too. I wish I was an Aussie-I'd try to adopt her! I have a water loving, high-jumping kitty as well (Maine Coon) and I think they'd get along really well!

 

[missy]

Wow, she is beautiful!! It is so wonderful of you to be fostering cats justginger!!

 

[Lottie]

She is completely beautful, I bet she has no problems at all finding a new home! If you wanted to be sure re the breed, have you thought about emailing a Turkish Van breeder in your area with your pictures and asking them what they think? Either way she is a lovely cat. I also really like your kitten in the last photo - very cute.

 

[Lottie]

Just out of interest, if she is pregnant do you wait until she has had the kittens and they have had homes found for them to rehome her, or providing its the right environment do you rehome a pregnant cat?

 

[justginger]

Lottie, our rescue group will never rehome a pregnant cat - all of our's must go to their new homes with their full vet work complete. Vaccs, microchipped, and most importantly, desexed. We will not adopt out unsterilized animals, no exceptions - so that rules out rehoming future mummas. It also prevents issues with general members of the public struggling to find homes for the kittens. If they get desperate they might start advertising them for free - which is a dangerous situation for the bubs. If they stay in our care, we've for more resources and exposure, and the ability to filter adopters.

However, in the past we have lined up homes for the mother prior to all of the kittens being adopted. The new families have been more than happy to wait a week or two for the kittens to all move house before picking up their new pet.

I wasn't sure about her pregnancy status before, but now I think it's probably true. She seems young in both appearance and demeanor, so am hoping everything goes smoothly. I've heard some awful whelping stories about young, first time mothers.

 

[Gypsy]

Sweetie, I just wanted to post about how impressed I am by you. In every post you make about your kitties and about your rescue your whole heart comes through and really you are so amazing you humble me and make me realize how blessed we all are that there are people like you doing what you do day after day.

((HUGS)) and much love.

 

[justginger]

Thank you for your kind words, Gypsy - they mean a lot. It can be tough on me at times and it's a nice reminder that other people appreciate the effort. I know the cats certainly do, but it's nice actually having someone verbalize it every once in a while, ya know? So thank you.