MyCatBreeds
Turkish Van is originated from Turkey but Tonkinese is originated from Canada. Both Turkish Van and Tonkinese are having almost same weight. Turkish Van may live 3 years less than Tonkinese. Both Turkish Van and Tonkinese has same litter size. Turkish Van requires Low maintenance. But Tonkinese requires Moderate maintenance
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.
It was about in 1960 that a breeding program was established for these cats. The Tonkinese is a cat that hails from Canada and it was a certain Jane Batlett who was responsible for breeding this cat.
Also, Margaret Conroy, another breeder, set up her breeding program between a Burmese female with a Siamese. Both Conroy and Bartlett worked together on the breed and the Tonkinese came about. The Cat Fanciers Association recognized this cat breed in 1984.
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.
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.
As a medium-sized cat, with a firm, muscular body, your Tonkinese will weigh between 2.5 – 6kg.The head is slightly rounded with fairly broad ears that are set wide apart.
The eyes are bigger than the classic Oriental shape and can range from green to light blue in color.
The coat of the Tonkinese is short and close-lying and is soft and silky to touch. The mask, the ears, legs and tail are all darker than the body.
The Tonkinese cat breed is recognized by the Cat Fanciers' Association in 4 base colors - medium brown, champagne, blue and and platinum.
The Tonkinese cat, with one of its parents being the Siamese cat, just loves giving and receiving attention.
Active and social, he is an excellent choice for families with children and even other pets. They love just seeking out their human companions and lying down where they are.
They’re intelligent felines these, and you can even teach them some simple commands. Because of them being so very social, they don’t like to be left on their own – certainly not for the whole day while you go off to work.
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.
Tonkinese cats can be active and highly entertaining with their antics. When you laugh at them, they are encouraged to perform more.
They are affectionate and intelligent cats and you will need to have toys for him. When he isn't playing, he likes nothing more than to be petted and pampered by his human family.
Your Tonkinese will get on well with children and other pets, and he generally makes a splendid pet for those who care well for him.
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.
Tonkinese are generally healthy cats but they can be prone to eye problems such as gingvitis.
Because they are part of the Siamese family, they can succumb to some of the diseases that the Siamese battles with. These are asthma/bronchial disease, heart defects, lymphoma, and crossed eyes.
Lymphoma is linked with feline leukemia, a viral infection, and thankfully, more cats are being vaccinated for feline leukemia, so fortunately it is becoming less common.
Intestinal lymphoma affects the gastrointestinal tract and is the most common type of lymphoma in cats, being more common in older cats. Affected cats can suffer with weight loss, vomiting, and diarrhea. Get your cat to the vet as diagnosing this lymphoma will require the vet finding cancerous cells on microscopic examination.
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.
Cats are meticulous about hygiene so ensure the litter box is kept clean. Remove the cat’s feces every single day.
The Tonkinese has a short coat so a brush once a week will be sufficient for this cat as it just helps to brush away dust and loose hairs.
He will need a litter box and this will need to be kept spotlessly clean. Use a small rake, available from your vet or local pet shop, to rake up the cat’s feces.
When you first bring your Tonkinese cat home, you will at least need some of the basics to ensure his wellbeing. These are -
sleeping equipment – baskets or cushions in a nice warm, dry place for your cat.
A cat tree for climbing and a scratching post. Cats are natural scratchers so you can’t get angry with your cat for scratching. Instead, invest in a scratching post so that he doesn’t use your furniture to scratch on.
Food is such an important part of caring for a cat. The best type of cat food can ensure your cat has a strong immune system that allows him to not succumb to every cat sickness there is.
Cats are carnivores so ensure he has food high in meat. Sometimes it can be costly, but try to provide your cat with the best, most high-quality cat foods there are to ensure his good health and happiness.
A cat needs a constant supply of fresh, cool water night and day. The water should be changed regularly.