Van cats: truth about heterochromia and “Turkish standard”The common opinion that a Van cat must be odd-eyed is however erroneous. Heterochromia is not the dominating feature of the breed. Van cat is an endemic breed that emerged in the surroundings of Van Lake, which is now the territory of Turkey. Being the most ancient domestic cat, the Van cat is capricious and freedom-loving. It’s rather big and is famous for being able to swim and hunt for fish. February 9, 2016 PanARMENIAN.Net - The body of a Van cat is graceful, muscular, with well-developed chest and back that narrows at the tail. It has silky water-repellent fur, snowy white with amber marks on the head and tail. Archeological findings prove that the breed is very old. For example, big cats with characteristic coloring were depicted on the jewels of the Ararat Kingdom (Urartu) dating back to II-I centuries BC.
The common opinion that a Van cat must be odd-eyed is however erroneous. Heterochromia is not the dominating feature of the breed. The eyes of a Van cat can be both amber, both blue, or one eye amber and the other one blue. There are no Van cats with green eyes. As a symbol of Armenia, Van cats were exterminated during the years of the Genocide. However, dozens of years later, Turks declared Van cats as national patrimony and the “heritage of their ancestors.”
A research institute to breed Van cats was established in 1987. However, the Turkish breeders actually assimilated Van cats with Angora cats. According to a Muslim tradition, only a totally white cat is “pure”. Besides, the “Turkish standard”, which has nothing in common with the international standards, supposes different eye color. Thus, the breeding taking place in Turkey can result in complete extinction of Van cats. Besides, this kind of breeding can cause various pathologies, specifically deafness. PanARMENIAN.Net / Tsets Most popular in the section Marriages by mail Green tourism on the rise in Syunik This winter is ideal for it The cableway, the shoe and the unicycle More articles in this section The growing trend of human microchipping Means of control or convenience? Holy Etchmiadzin prefers solar energy Church invests in alternative energy sources Friendship heals Social relationships impact physical wellbeing | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. U.S. believes peace is “possible” in South Caucasus The United States continues to believe that peace is possible in the South Caucasus, Vedant Patel said. |