A History Of The Turkish Van Cat

A History Of The Turkish Van

6000 years ago there were already domestic cats in East Anatolia, 2000 years earlier than in Egypt. If these were longhair cats is unknown. Archaeologists found  small terracotta statuettes of women holding or playing with cats from the Neolithic Period.

The first picture of a cat like the Turkish Van, is found on a Roman Shield, a cat with 2 colored spots on his head and a colored tail with rings. The Romans occupied Ancient Armenia from 75 Ad to AD 387.

There are theories that all longhair cats have Turkish cats as ancestors. So the Vikings (AD 900  to AD 1200) took cats to Scandinavia with as result an other natural breed the Norwegian Forest Cat.

The French claim the first Turkish Van cats in modern times. In 1933 a M.Karelu, living in Normandie, had 2 cats. Both mixed with the local cats.

In 1955 the British Laura Lushington and Sonia Halliday, saw during a trip through Turkey these cats. They imported 2 auburn/white cats (some resources 5) to England. The kittens had the same pattern as the parents and the conclusion was that this must be a breed. The names of the kittens were: Burdur, Bysantium, Antalya Anatolia en Van Iskendrum Guzelli.

Lydia Russell (Kastamonou cattery) promoted the breed further (1966).  After 4 generations of “pure” breeding the GCCF recognized the auburn/white Turkish Van in championship in 1969 (2000: black/white, tortie/white, their delutions and tabby’s).

Recognition in other registries: FIFe 1971 (only auburn/white; crème/white 1986; all other colours 1997), TICA 1988, CFA 1994.

Other pioneers:

France                          Michelle Ledermann                1978               Kairia et Badrul Boudour

The Netherlands           Ans de Munck                          1973               Dar es Salaam

USA                              Barbara & Jack Reark              1982               Matabiru

Sweden                        Mrs. Bjorkman                          1959               av Ankara

Switzerland                  Gideon Gautschi                       1976               von Anatolien

Germany                      Porst                                          1978 (?)         von Schneewittchen

To get fresh blood Dutch breeders went to Turkey and saw that there are  Turkish Van cats with other colors than auburn/white: black/white, tortie/white (also their dilutions, tabby’s) They introduced these cats in their breeding program.There was (and still is) great resistance by other breeders for these new colours. For some this had consequences. They were even abandoned by their club (FIFe).

The history repeats. This moment some breeders in the US, UK and the Netherlands are working together for recognition of the solid white Turkish Van or Turkish Vankedisi. And again they find resistance of other breeders and organisations. The Vankedisi has

preliminary status with the GCCF as a separate breed. The French LOOF is the only registration, where the variety solid white has championship status this moment.