Turkish Van vs Asian - Breed Comparison | PetzLover

Known also as the Malayan, the Asian cat is likened to the Burmese but just with different coat patterns and colors.

This particular cat breed was developed in 1981 in the UK. Apparently there was a mistake mating between a Lilac Burmese and a Chinchilla Persian and kittens from these were born in 1981.

So beautiful were they that a breeding program started with new coat colors and patterns. The breed got the name ‘Asian’ with all the varieties reaching GCCF Championship status.

Hailing from Turkey, the Turkish Van was brought to the UK in 1955 by 2 British women, Laura Lushington and Sonia Halliday.

These cats were used as the foundation stock of the breed. They were brought to the United States in 1982 and accepted into championship with the Cat Fanciers’ Association in 1994.

They are a very rare breed and no other breed is allowed to be mixed into the cat's breeding schedule. All registered Turkish Van cats can have their ancestry traced back to the imported cats of Laura Lushington.

The Asian cat is medium-sized and muscular. The male cat is somewhat bigger than the female and weighs roughly 5 – 7kg while the female will weigh roughly 3 – 5kg although most times, there is not much difference in size between the males and females.

The attractive cat has a round head and wide-spaced ears with large green eyes. It’s a slender cat, but athletic with slender legs and medium thickness tail. Asian cats come in a wide range of colors such as fawn, chocolate, black, blue, cinnamon. The coat is short, fine, and silky and the Asian doesn’t require too much grooming.

Temperament:

These are friendly, playful cats and they get on well with children if the children are kind, gentle and respectful with him. This is a fairly dependant cat and he will actually follow his favorite human being, crying out for attention.

The Asian is a social cat and can fit well into different homes. However, because it is a social cat, they require an owner that is willing to spend time with them. They’re cats that are sensitive to the moods of their owners and make excellent companions.

They’re adventurous cats and enjoy exploring and traveling, voicing their opinion on different things as well. The Asian thrives on the attention it gets from their human owners. It’s a sociable cat and is quite talkative too.

This is a medium to large-sized cat weighing roughly 3 to 8kg. It’s a semi-long-haired domestic cat breed that was actually developed in the United Kingdom with a selection of cats from Turkey.

The breed is distinguished by the Van pattern where the color is restricted to the head and tail. So the cat is white with color on the head and the tail. The Turkish Van has no undercoat and the cat has a sleek appearance.

The cat is quite long and its back legs are slightly longer than its front legs. The paws are large and they are strong jumpers.

Temperament:

These cats are playful, active, and independent and they are also excellent hunters. They are affectionate and form strong bonds with their human families.

They get on well with kids as well as with other pets. Energetic and agile, they love to leap up onto high places. For a cat, they also have this fascination with water and may well follow their human into a swimming pool or lake.

The Asian cat is such a sweet animal – gentle and affectionate and also very sociable. They are also curious and intelligent and vocal enough to let you know their needs. They're strong-willed if they want something.

The Asian makes an excellent companion for singles, couples, families or the elderly. They also get on well with children and with other pets in the home.

There are quite a few Asian cat varieties and each one promises to make you an excellent companion.

Lively, social, and intelligent, the Turkish Van is going to make you a wonderful pet and companion.

He is an active cat and will require you to play with him and provide some form of exercise for him.

He likes to leap up onto perches so getting him a climbing tree will serve him well as he is a cat that loves perching on high up places.

These cats are also low maintenance which simply adds to them being such perfect pets for single people, couples, families and seniors, just so long as he is provided with lots of love and care.

Your Asian cat can reach up to 15 years of age with good care.

Although there are no specific health issues with this cat, because of it being associated with the Burmese, it may be more susceptible to diabetes mellitus than other breeds.

There are many cats in modern times developing diabetes mellitus – where they are unable to produce enough insulin to balance blood sugar. If the disease goes untreated it can lead to dehydration, vomiting, depression, weight loss, and even death. Your cat will be thirsty and urinating more frequently. There are various treatments and the diet for the cat will need to change too.

Always get vet help for your Turkish Van if you notice these signs -

Discharge or redness of the eyes

Scratching or shaking the head

Battling to urinate

Extreme and ongoing lethargy

Heavy breathing

Have your cat vaccinated against the deadly cat diseases there are.

Have your cat spayed or neutered.

Your Turkish Van counts on you to ensure his health and wellbeing. This will ensure he lives a long and healthy life.

Obesity is a major disease that contributes to many illnesses in cats. Excess weight is one of the factors for the development of arthritis and diabetes as well as some life-threatening diseases.

All kinds of parasites can invade your Turkish Van’s body. . Many types of parasites can be detected with a fecal exam, so a trip to your vet may be necessary.

Grooming:

To take care of the cat’s shiny coat, you can gently brush your Asian every week, not more, as they are short-haired cats, they’re not heavy shedders and they are low maintenance.

Diet:

Age and general health will influence the way you feed your Asian cat. You’ll want to be feeding your feline friend the very best food there is as this will contribute towards his good health.

If you opt to feed your cat a commercially manufactured cat food, higher protein levels in wet foods might be better for your carnivorous pet. You don’t want to provide your cat with a high protein diet that is deficient in amino acids.

That is why it is important to research cat foods and their ingredients and get to know what are the most important ingredients for your cat to be getting. At all costs, avoid your cat becoming obese.

Make sure your cat has access to fresh cool water to maintain his body temperature.

General:

Check your cat’s teeth, as he can’t convey to you that he is in pain – you need to check inside his mouth. Redness inside his ears might be indicative of an ear infection.

Whenever your cat seems to be ill, get him to the vet.

Provide your cat with a litter box that is kept hygienically clean.

Provide your cat with food- and water bowl, a brush for grooming and warm, dry sleeping basket.

Have your Asian neutered or spayed to prevent unwanted kittens.

Make sure your cat’s vaccines are up to date.

One of the most important things with a cat is diet. The cat is a carnivore. Watch his diet, and make sure he gets plenty of meaty food.

Check with your vet if you aren’t sure how to feed your cat. There must always be a constant supply of fresh, cool water available and both food and water bowls must be washed regularly.

Regularly brush your cat’s coat gently and at the same time check the body over for any unusual lumps. If you discover a new lump, get your cat to the vet.

Be sure to schedule in your cat’s vaccinations as without these your cat can die from some of the more dangerous ones.

Another wise move, if at all possible, is to sign up for pet health insurance as then you won’t dread it financially when your vet requests medical tests be done on your cat.

There are simple things you can do to ensure the longevity of your beloved cat. Good food, exercise, fresh water, and plenty of love and attention.

Turkish Vans can have problems with their teeth. Teeth brushing can be massively traumatic and uncomfortable for your pet, but the best diet and vet care will ensure healthy teeth.

Have the nails trimmed.

Cats are meticulous about hygiene so ensure the litter box is kept clean. Remove the cat’s feces every single day.