Turkish Van kittens for sale in Waltham Abbey, Essex

The Turkish Van is a semi-long-haired cat species that originated in the Lake Van area of Eastern Turkey and is often known simply as "Turks" by their growing band of followers. They are sometimes nicknamed "Turkish Swimming Cat" as it is said that they love to bathe and play in the water during the hot summer months in their homeland. This breed is also famous for its totally unique coat pattern, mainly pure white but with prominent markings on the head and tail, so distinctive that the pattern is even called "Van" in other breeds. They are still relatively rare in the UK, despite being recognised by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) for over 40 years, with less than fifty new registrations in 2010. The Turkish Van should not be confused with the Turkish Angora and the Turkish Vankedisi, both of which are two completely different breeds.

Read our Turkish Van Buying Advice page for information on this cat breed.