Turkish Shorthair

A new, old breed
Besides the well-known Turkish Angora and the Turkish Van the ‘Van Kedisi’ exists in Turkey. This cat, coming from the Van-district (Southeast Turkey) is the national cat in Turkey. The white half-long-haired and shorthaired specimens, usually with two different colored eyes, are very beloved with Turkish people. In the city Van a statue has even been founded for him. The ‘Van Kedisi’ is a natural breed. It has existed in Turkey since generations.    

In the Ankara Zoo they have bred with this breed since 1940. Breeding programs exist in Turkey in the Izmir Zoo, at the veterinarian faculty of the University in Van and with a number of private breeders.  

Nowadays, some Turkish breeders also acknowledge the colored specimen, which can be born in the same nest together with the white specimens as the Van cat. They also realize that crossings between themselves will cause “defects” like deafness and that this doesn’t meet the present health demands anymore.

Outside Turkey there is a group of collaborating breeders of Turkish cats in Holland, Germany, the Czech Republic, England and in the USA which have the goal to give the shorthaired variant of the Van Kedisi in all natural colors, with or without Van-marking the worldwide acknowledgment which they deserve.

Beate Goetz (Cattery vom Glasbach) started in 1995 in Germany with her white odd-eyed cat, which she imported from Turkey, Cimecime Anatolia. Three years later Anke Baks (Cattery Yeni Raki) started in Holland with the white odd-eyed female cat Inci which she had also imported from Turkey. The first crossings took place with Turkish Van tomcats. In Holland Jacqueline Derksen (Cattery Alaca and Margot Vos (Cattery Çumradan) and Janneke Tanriöven (Cattery Ozgur) also started. In the meantime there are already about 100 registered specimen of this breed.

Remarks
Like all over the world some matters have supporters and opponents. This also goes for the acknowledgement of the Turkish shorthaired cat. Opponents like to claim that (for whatever reason) it concerns street cats and try to portray them as inferior.

They seem to forget that each natural breed originally is a street cat, like for example the Maine Coon, the Norwegian Wildcat and of course also the Turkish Van and the Turkish Angora. Only the breeds created by people came into being at the breeders. At breeding of Turkish shorthaired cats we make use of cats from Turkey which meet the standard or we make use of specimens which largely meet the standard. This might be cats, which were born on the street. 
 
Besides, we make use of – as long as necessary – the present Turkish Van cats. We continue breeding with the shorthaired specimens of these last crossings.

What has been achieved
In August 2000 the World Cat Federation (W.C.F.) acknowledged the Turkish shorthair under the name “Anatolian’ with “TUK” as EMS-code.     

A number of coordinating organizations and a number of associations have copied this acknowledgement automatically. That is why these purebred cats can win titles as well here.

What is worked on?
The acknowledgement of the “Anatolian”/ Turkish shorthair isn’t copied by all worldwide operating coordination organizations. In order to obtain a broader acknowledgement for this breed and also an extension of the gene pool, we closely cooperate with breeders from other countries.

Character
The Turkish shorthaired cat is a very lively, playful cat. They are sweet, affectionate if they want to and love human beings. They shouldn’t be treated impolitely. Most of them are watchful. For example, if the window-cleaner stands in front of the window, some will growl and jump against the window. They need some space, they are besides very athletic. They feel at ease with fanciers of sportive cats. People who will not be surprised if they run through the house and don’t shun the closets.
 
Something might break after all. Just like the Turkish Van most of them like to jump on your shoulder, sometimes unexpectedly.

Breeders and owners notice that these cats still show some primitive behavior, which doesn’t include mean streaks. You will also observe this with mother cats and their kittens. They are good educators, during a long time. They don’t always handle their kittens gently. However, it never concerns abuse.

Health
Hereditary diseases haven’t occurred so far with the Turkish shorthair. A crossing with a white specimen only takes place after his hearing has been tested completely.

Standard
The standard is equal to the standard of the Turkish Van, with the exception of fur length, the required Van-marking and the color silver.

The colors can be uniform white (possibly with Van-marking), black, red and/or bi-color and tri-color, with/without silver and with/without tabby marking. Eye colors: amber, blue, green or odd-eyed (2 different colors: amber and blue or green and blue.  
Crossings with the Turkish Van are still allowed in connection with the extension of the gene pool. We strive for breeding with pure shorthaired specimen.  

Pictures & breedinformation by: Turkish Shorthair Cattery Yeni Raki