A Swimming House Cat?

Have you ever heard of a house cat that likes water? I'm sure you have not. A cat and water usually means one angry cat. But this individual cat is special, special indeed.

It's called a Turkish Van. The Turkish Van is bred in present day Turkey. The name "Van" refers to it's fur pattern to where there is only color on the head and tail. This cat is particularly rare, which makes it quite valuable.

Turkish Vans are often confused with Turkish Angoras. Angoras have white fur, blue eyes, and are deaf, while Vans do not have these traits. The Turkish Van's eye color can be amber, blue, or both. But while having two blue eyes or two amber, Vans will not necessarily be deaf, like Angoras.

The Turkish Van is a naturally bred, large, intelligent, and strong house cat. This cat has a sparkling white coat of semi-longhaired fur on it's body, and spots of color on it's head and tail. This cat's fur is very soft, and is often compared to rabbit fur or cashmere. Males are usually 9-20 pounds and females are normally 7-12 pounds, making these cats quite large. They are, in fact, so dense, that jumping on, off, and around furniture pushes it around.

So why do these beautiful cats seem to be so fond of water? It may be due to the breed's proximity to Lake Van in their country. It also may be due to the hot summers they deal with. Some say it could be that their fur is so thick and waterproof, it may have been hard to bathe themselves. Not only do Turkish Vans not mind water, but they have a curiosity of it. If you ever own a Turkish Van, you will often find it making a fishing game out of the toilet, or playing with it's water bowl.

Some say that you are missing out on so much without a Turkish Van, for it is a true companion. And many say that having a "Swimming Cat" is certainly an upside. I just hope you enjoyed my article.

- Becca, 12, New York (PenPal #5363)