Van Kedisi vs European Shorthair - Breed Comparison

The European Shorthair is a cat breed that hails from Sweden but it also has roots that go back to the Roman Empire.

It is referred to as a natural cat breed, which means that the cat came about naturally without any human intervention.

The cat has had great hunting skills and this has what has made it sought after as a cat to keep rodents at bay. It became a famous housecat as well.

The Van Kedisi cat or Cat of Van as it is also known is a domestic cat that hails from the Lake Van region of Turkey.

There are historians who agree that the domestic cat originated in Egypt. The actual cat was developed in the United Kingdom from a host of cat types from Turkey. During the late 1990s the Van Cat became an informal municipal symbol of the city.

These domestic cats of Europe are a medium- to large-sized cat, weighing between 4 and 6kg, though some can be heavier.

The European Shorthair has a fairly large head and medium-sized ears. The body is robust and round shaped. The cat’s short coat without an undercoat comes in a range of colors and patterns such as white, cream, red, black and blue with eyes that are green, yellow, brown or copper or blue.

Temperament:

The European Shorthair is known for its adaptable nature and the cat is able to fit into different lifestyles with ease. It's a cat that will live happily with children, pets, adults and seniors.

The cat loves his human family and loves becoming involved with fun games and activities. It's an intelligent cat too and cat food puzzles help him to think about how to get his food.

Even though your cat is social with his human family, it becomes fairly shy and nervous of strangers.

The Van Kedisi cat is a large feline with a soft, silky white coat, which he often sheds in the Summer. There is usually color on the head and tail – a yellow apricot color. The coat is descibed as seni-long.

He can reach up to 10kg in weight. The cats are lean and long-legged and they also like to swim. The eyes are almond-shaped eyes and are often odd-colored. One eye might be green and the other blue.

Temperament:

Van Kedisi cats have a strong wild side to them, but in spite of this they love getting attention from their human owners. In fact, they demand it or else they can become disgruntled. It's the kind of cat that can adapt to new environments and he is intelligent enough to be able to be trained.

The European Shorthair is such a sweet cat and he is able to adapt fairly easily to new environments. It is such an ideal cat for households with singles, couples, families, and seniors as it adapts its personality to suit, getting on well with other pets as well.

The cat loves his human family and wants to please, but loves to play too, being active and playful. Having one of these cats in your home is like bringing in a treasured gem.

Van Kedisi cats are intelligent and friendly and they make excellent companions.

They are lively cats and love playing games with their humans. They will need stimulation from interactive toys. He also loves to leap up onto high perches and watch things from his elevated position.

If you have decided to have a Van Kedisi in your home, expect things to joyful and entertaining as this cat likes to build a strong bone with his human owners.

Even if your European Shorthair appears to be well, it is a good idea to get used to taking your cat to the vet for an annual check-up.

To provide your cat with the best chance to remain healthy, good diet and exercise is imperative. Look out for an itchy skin too as this could well be a sign that your cat is being plagued by parasites. Parasites can be a terrible problem and it will need to be attended to by your vet.

Parasites and an itchy skin can be a nightmare for your pet and make him most miserable with excessive scratching and licking as well as thinning of hair.

A new kitten will also require being vaccinated to ensure he remains healthy. These injections protect your cat from life-threatening diseases. Usually, vets start vaccines at between 8 – 12 weeks of age to protect your cat against the likes of Feline Leukaemia Virus, Feline Infectious Enteritis and Cat Flu.

There are also other vaccinations you might want to consider such as rabies and chlamydia.

A healthy meat diet for your cat is like a ticket to good health. Cats are carnivores and they rely on you to supply them with food high in protein.

Cats battle to absorb protein derived from plants. Learn to check your food labels to ensure the food contains animal meat. Meat from chicken and tuna is good.

Regular visits to the vet when you suspect that your cat is ill will give you the chance to catch any diseases in their early stages.

European Shorthairs like to groom themselves, but even so, you want to brush your cat once a week to keep the hair shiny and healthy. Make sure to trim your cat’s claws at the same time. It’s your time to feel for any unusual lumps or scratches on your feline friend’s skin. Check his eyes and make sure they are still bright and clear, look inside the ears to make sure they aren’t becoming clogged with dirt and wax and look inside the mouth to ensure no signs of gum- and tooth disease.

Your cat may well be outgoing with his human family, but his nervousness with strangers will require you providing him with a safe haven of his own. This might be his own bed which should be in a safe, dry, quiet area where he can retreat and feel more secure.

European Shorthairs love being outdoors and particularly if you have a female you’ll want her spayed to avoid her becoming pregnant. Cat shelters are already full of unwanted kittens and you don’t want to add to the burden. Also, have your male neutered too as he is ar less likely to want to roam. Spaying and neutering come with many health benefits too.

Be very careful of your cat’s diet. This is because the domestic cat is a carnivore and still essentially a predator, liking to hunt for their meat. They require a meat diet. However, cats have special dietary requirements and they require a balanced diet. All cats are individuals and they have different food likes and preferences, but they all need the best food there is to remain in peak condition. If you feed your cat commercially manufactured food, always follow the instructions on the label.

Provide your feline pet with cat accessories – food and water bowl, collar and tag, soft bedding, a climbing tree, scratching post, litter box, grooming accessories and toys.

Brush your Van Kedisi each week because the semi longhair can become matted and tangled if not brushed each week.

The Van Kedisi will need to be vaccinated. As a kitten he will need to be vaccinated against deadly cat diseases. While at the vet he will also be dewormed.

As your cat matures, you will need to make sure that he is free from parasites. Ticks, fleas, and heartworm can cause havoc with your pet and the vet can advise you on a treatment plan.

Have your cat neutered or spayed as not only will it prevent unwanted kittens, but the procedure can have health benefits for your cat too. It can eliminate the possibility of your cat getting some of the many cancers there are. Spaying and neutering also has a positive impact on your cat’s personality.

These are big, strong cats and the temptation will be to overfeed him. They enjoy their food and can easily put on weight. Obesity can bring about many different diseases in your cat.

It is up to you as a responsible cat owner to ensure your ca doesn’t put on a lot of weight but rather maintains a healthy weight.  You should also make sure that your feline friend gets regular exercise through playing, walking, and even swimming. These cats enjoy a swim, particularly when it is with their human owners.

Provide your cat with attention and play with him every day. They are playful, intelligent cats and it boosts his morale to have his favorite human playing with him.

Allow opportunities for scratching and climbing. The Van Kedisi loves to climb and scratch – two natural behaviors of cats. Supply him with a scratching post and a climbing tree to get the exercise he needs.

Provide your cat with a litter box, water and food bowls and a nice, soft bed.