Turkish Van Cat Breed Information
Also known as: Swimming Cat
A semi-longhaired cat from the Lake Van region of eastern Turkey, distinctive for the white body with coloured head and tail (the "van pattern") and an unusual love of water and swimming.
A highly affectionate, high energy, highly playful cat. On the practical side: low grooming demands and minimal drool.
About the Turkish Van.
The Turkish Van is the swimming cat. The breed evolved around Lake Van in eastern Turkey, with a water-resistant cashmere-textured coat and a documented love of water that is unusual among domestic cats. The white body with coloured head and tail (the “van pattern”) is the breed’s other defining feature.
Personality and behaviour
Active, independent, athletic, and water-loving. The breed forms strong bonds with chosen humans but is reserved with strangers and dislikes rough handling.
Care and grooming
Weekly brushing. Daily during the heavy spring shed.
Indoor vs outdoor in New Zealand
Indoor or catio. The breed is athletic, prey-driven, and capable of long-range outdoor exploration.
Where to find a Turkish Van in New Zealand
NZCF and Catz Inc list registered breeders (NZCF Turkish Van, Catz Inc Turkish Van). NZ breeder numbers are low and waitlists are long, NZD 1,500 to 3,500.
The Turkish Van, by the numbers.
Each trait scored 1 to 5 on the AKC scale. The verdict synthesises the data; the panels below show the strengths, group averages, and the full trait table.
Top strengths
Family Life
avg 3.3Affectionate with Family
Good with Young Children
Good with Other Pets
Physical
avg 2.5Shedding
Grooming Frequency
Social
avg 3.3Openness to Strangers
Playfulness
Adaptability
Independence
Personality
avg 3.6Trainability
Energy Level
Vocal Level
Prey Drive
Mental Stimulation Needs
Living with a Turkish Van.
A 24-hour breakdown of how this breed's day typically goes, scaled to its energy, mental-stimulation, and grooming needs.
What a Turkish Van costs to own.
An indicative NZ lifetime cost: purchase, setup, then food, vet, insurance, grooming and other annual outgoings. Adjust the inputs to see how your choices change the total.
A Turkish Van costs about
$158per month
$36
$5
$31,150
Adjust the inputs:
Where the monthly cost goes
Food
$43 / mo
$520/yr · breed-appropriate dry & wet food
Insurance
$37 / mo
$440/yr · lifetime cover protects against breed-specific claims
Vet (avg)
$44 / mo
$530/yr · routine checks plus breed-specific risk
Grooming
$8 / mo
$100/yr · brushes, shampoo, professional clips
Other
$25 / mo
$300/yr · toys, treats, dental, boarding
Indicative NZ averages calculated from breed weight, grooming need and screened-condition count. One-off costs (purchase $2,500 + setup $300) are factored into the lifetime total but not the monthly figure.
How does the Turkish Van compare?
This breed
Turkish Van
$31,150
15-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$2,800
- Food (lifetime)$7,800
- Vet (lifetime)$7,950
- Insurance (lifetime)$6,600
- Grooming (lifetime)$1,500
- Other (lifetime)$4,500
Reference
Average NZ cat
$23,600
14-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$500
- Food (lifetime)$7,000
- Vet (lifetime)$5,600
- Insurance (lifetime)$5,600
- Grooming (lifetime)$1,400
- Other (lifetime)$3,500
A Turkish Van costs about $7,550 more over a lifetime than the average nz cat, mostly highervet and higherpurchase + setup.
What to ask the breeder.
Reputable NZ cat breeders test for these conditions and share results. The bigger health drivers for the breed appear in the Common group.
Occasional
2 conditionsHypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
An occasional condition in the Turkish Van. Worth asking about.
Hereditary deafness in white cats
An occasional condition in the Turkish Van. Worth asking about.
Rare but urgent
1 conditionGenerally robust breed otherwise
Rare in the Turkish Van but worth knowing the warning signs.
The Turkish Van in NZ.
- Popularity: Rare in NZ, with very few registered breeders.
- Typical price: NZ$1500–3500 from registered breeders or rescues
- Rescue availability: rare
- NZ climate fit: The water-resistant coat handles all NZ regions.
- Living space: Houses with vertical space, climbing structures, and water features (cat-safe fountains, sinks) suit best.
Who the Turkish Van is for.
Suits
- Active households
- Owners willing to manage a cat that opens taps and joins showers
Less suited to
- Quiet households wanting a calm lap cat
- Outdoor-roaming setups
Common questions.
Do Turkish Vans really swim?
How is a Turkish Van different from a Turkish Angora?
If the Turkish Van appeals, also consider.
Breeds with a similar profile that might suit your household.
Turkish Angora
One of the oldest documented cat breeds, the Turkish Angora is a long-haired single-coat cat originally from the Ankara region. Athletic, intelligent and people-oriented, with white the original and most-recognised coat colour.
Norwegian Forest Cat
Large, robustly-built semi-longhair developed naturally in the Norwegian forest and coast for centuries before formal recognition. Calm, independent, weather-adapted, and one of the larger pedigree cats in NZ.
Maine Coon
One of the largest domestic cat breeds. Friendly, dog-like in temperament, with a magnificent long coat and tufted ears.
Siberian
Large, agile, triple-coated cat from Russia with a reputation for producing lower levels of the Fel d 1 cat allergen. Affectionate, family-oriented, and at home in cooler NZ regions.
Last reviewed:
Sources for this pageInformation only. Breed traits and health notes on this page are aggregated from public registry and breed-authority sources. Individual animals vary; this page is general information, not veterinary, behavioural, or insurance advice. Always consult a registered NZ vet or breeder for guidance specific to your situation.