What breed of domestic cat is known for swimming?

The Turkish Van is the domestic cat breed especially known for swimming and its unusual fascination with water.

The breed is associated with the Lake Van region of eastern Turkey and is sometimes nicknamed the “swimming cat.” Turkish Vans are semi-long-haired, muscular cats with a distinctive Van pattern: most of the body is white, while color is concentrated around the head and tail. Their coat is often described as water-resistant, which may make water less unpleasant for them than it is for many other cats.

The modern standardized breed was developed in Britain from cats brought from Turkey during the 1950s. It is often confused with the Turkish Angora, but the two are separate breeds with different histories and appearances. Not every Turkish Van will willingly swim, and the breed's reputation should not be treated as a guarantee of behavior. The native Van cat landrace and the modern pedigree breed are also related but are not exactly the same thing.