Turkish Van vs Bristol - Breed Comparison | PetzLover

The Bristol cat hails from Texas and was developed during the 1980s, using a south American wild cat and domestic cats.

The Bristol cat isn’t well-known and in fact, its origins are shrouded in mystery.

The cat was recognized and admitted into the TICA (The International Cat Association. It is looked upon as a hybrid breed or a designer cat.

Nobody seems to know when the first Bristol cat was even bred. Because of its exotic nature, it is believed to be a cross between the American Shorthair and the margay or similar breed.

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.

Bristol cats are medium-sized and muscular, powerful cats. They are much like Bengal cats. They have a smokey charcoal appearance while others have quite a bit of white on them.

They also have rosettes and small rounded ears. The origins of the Bristol breed are uncertain but it seems a multi-colored cat was adopted by a United States Army captain in Australia.

The cat was so adored it was brought back when they returned to the United States. The cat was already pregnant and she gave birth to 2 kittens. The coats are shiny and short-haired with spots and lines of fawn, grey and brown mostly with the eyes being green.

Temperament:

The Bristol cat has a very pleasing disposition – being amicable, playful, and loving. They’re intelligent cats too but they need to spend time in solitude as well.

They definitely don’t respond and bond to everyone in the human family but tend to respond to only one person.

These Bristol cats are cunning and self-confident and because of their wild side, they will need a large area to roam. This is definitely not a cat for city life.

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 Bristol cat is beautiful all right, but once again humans should just leave wild cats alone in the bush.

Mixing them with domestic cats doesn’t work in the long run, and many of these cats land up in shelters because of unruly behavior. The Bristol cat is part wild and it doesn’t seem to have a future although there isn’ enough information online to really know what its future is.

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.

Not much information on the health of this particular cat, but as with other cat breeds, lifestyle and nutrition play a huge role in the health of a cat.

Every cat, regardless of age, size, and energy levels will require top quality foods high in proteins, as cats are carnivores.

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.

Diet:

The diet of a cat such as the Bristol will include small rodents, however once domesticated, these cats will need a diet high in protein. The cat is a carnivore and to be healthy it will require high-quality premium commercial cat food that is appropriate for the age of your cat and his health status.

The best cat food has taurine in it, an essential protein that cats can only obtain through quality food. Your adult Bristol cat may prefer eating several smaller meals and this is actually a good idea as smaller frequent meals help towards greater urinary tract health.

If you want a healthy cat, you have to be diligent with providing such a cat with good food that is high in protein. If you aren’t sure, your veterinarian will be able to advise you on what to feed your new cat or kitten.

Factors such as age, size, activity levels, and health make a difference to what you feed your cat, how much and how frequently.

Get into a habit of reading and understanding the labels on the cat food packaging. Certainly, every cat requires taurine, an essential amino acid. You will also need to ensure fresh, cool water day and night.

Always take your pet to the veterinarian if he is lethargic ad disinterested in his food.

Grooming:

Most cats are clean, but you should brush or comb your Bristol cat regularly as the brushing helps keep your cat's coat shiny and also reduces the amount of hair during shedding.

General:

Provide your Bristol cat with a dry, warm sleeping area and keep the bedding clean.

Your Bristol cat needs to wear a safety collar and an ID tag. These ID tags or an implanted microchip can help ensure that your Bristol cat is returned if he becomes lost.

Cats scratch, and cutting your cat’s nails will keep the nails blunt. Nonetheless, to prevent your furniture from being scratched, provide your cat with a strong scratching post covered with a rough material such as sisal or tree bark.

Bristol cats are independent and they don’t require any kind of special care. Certainly, they require large areas for their active lifestyle as well as a shallow pool for swimming.

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.