I choose the Turkish Van for August because what does everyone do in the summer? Swim. What does that have to do with cats? You might ask. Cats hate water. Actually, not all hate water. Some cat breeds as well as moggies have a water-resistant coat of fur. The Turkish Van is one of those breeds. They are oftentimes called "The Swimming Cat" as they are marvelous swimmers.
History
The Turkish Van is a naturally occurring breed that originated in Turkey.
In 1955, the breed was brought to England, and in 1982, they were brought to America. In 1983, two breeders in Flordia set out to popularize the Turkish Van, then in 1985, they were granted championship status by TICA. In 1994, they gained championship status with the CFA.
Appearance
The Turkish Van is classified as a semi-longhaired breed. In the spring, they shed their long winter coat to prepare for the summer. They grow their fur back to protect them from the harsh winter the breed experienced in Turkey. Their single-coated coat or fur feels like cashmere or rabbit's fur. They have a bushy tail like that of a squirrel.
All Turkish Vans are mostly white. Turkish Vans with no more than 20% of color are accepted when judging the breed. Their tail and head/face are only parts of their body processing color. Their pattern is called the "Van pattern" (named after the breed).
The breed can have blue, amber, or one of each (odd-colored eyes).
They are a large, well-built, broad, muscular cat.
Males usually weigh between 10 and 20 pounds and females 7-12 pounds.
Possible colors include red, cream, black, blue, dilute tabby, tortoiseshell, dilute tortoiseshell, and patched tabby (torbie).
Personality
The Turkish Van is playful, energetic, athletic, loving, and intelligent. They are affectionate but aren't lap cats.
They are easy to train. They can be trained to fetch and walk on a leash.
The breed is good with dogs if properly introduced.
Works Cited
"Turkish Van Cat Breed Information," Hill's Pet,
"Turkish Van Cat Breed Information," VCA Hospitals,
"Turkish Van Cat Breed Profile," PetFinder,
"Turkish Van -Wikipedia," Wikipedia,
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