The Turkish Van is the cat breed famous for often enjoying water and having a distinctive color pattern called the van pattern.
The van pattern is primarily white, with colored markings concentrated on the head and tail. The body is usually white, while the tail is colored and the head carries patches that may be red, cream, black, or another accepted color. The breed’s semi-long coat has little undercoat, giving it a cashmere-like texture.
Turkish Vans are associated with the Lake Van region of eastern Turkey. Stories about their fondness for swimming helped create the popular nickname “swimming cat,” although individual cats vary and not every Turkish Van likes water.
The Turkish Van is different from the Turkish Angora. The Angora is generally a fine-boned, silky-coated breed associated with Ankara, while the Van is more robust and is identified especially by its body pattern.