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Breed Characteristics of Ankara and Van Cats, Local Breeds of Türkiye

Year 2025, Volume: 15 Issue: 1, 161 - 166, 26.06.2025

Selda Karadağ

https://doi.org/10.53518/mjavl.1612227

Abstract

This review aims to examine the genetic structure, physiological characteristics and behavioral differences of Ankara and Van cats, which are two of our globally recognized domestic cat breeds, in order to prevent frequent confusion and to contribute to the correct introduction of these breeds. Ankara and Van cats are two significant indigenous cat breeds from Türkiye, each distinguished by their unique physiological and behavioral traits. Although both breeds share a common white fur color and similar eye shades, they can be differentiated by several morphological characteristics. The Van cat has a round face, while the Ankara cat has a more pointed face. The Ankara cat's eyes are round, in contrast to the almond-shaped eyes of the Van cat. While both breeds are primarily white, the Van cat often exhibits yellowish spots on its head and tail. Additionally, the fur of the Van cat is generally shorter than that of the Ankara cat, which is another distinguishing feature. The Ankara cat carries the W gene, linked to deafness, whereas the Van cat is particularly known for its affinity for water, setting it apart from other breeds. These differences contribute to the clear distinction between the two Turkish cat breeds.

Keywords

Ankara cat Van cat Native cat breeds Morphological characteristics

References

  • ACFA (2024). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Cat_Fanciers_Association (Erişim tarihi: 04.12.2024).
  • Almaç, Ç., F., Kaya, A. (2023). Investigations on the incidence of deafness in Van cats and its distribution by eye color. Ankara Universitesi Veteriner Fakultesi Dergisi, 70(2). https://doi.org/10.33988/auvfd.975163
  • Altunok, V., Yüksek, N., Berkman, C. C., Ağaoğlu, Z. T., & Togan, I. (2011). Genetic structure and variation of Van cats. Biochemical genetics, 49, 511-522. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10528-011-9426-8
  • Arikan, S., Duru, S. Y., Gurkan, M., Agaoglu, Z. T., & Giger, U. (2003). Blood type A and B frequencies in Turkish Van and Angora cats in Turkey. Journal of Veterinary Medicine Series A, 50(6), 303-306. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1439-0442.2003.00536.x
  • CCA-AFC (2024). https://www.cca-afc.com/About/ (Erişim tarihi: 04.12.2024).
  • CFA (2024). https://cfa.org/breeds/ (Erişim tarihi: 04.12.2024).
  • Çak, B. (2017). Turkish Van cat and Turkish Angora cat: a review. J Agric Sci Technol A, 7(3), 151-159. https://doi.org/10.17265/2161- 6256/2017.03.002
  • Driscoll, C. A., Menotti-Raymond, M., Roca, A. L., Hupe, K., Johnson, W. E., Geffen, E., Macdonald, D. W. (2007). The Near Eastern origin of cat domestication. Science, 317(5837), 519-523. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1139518
  • Driscoll, C. A., Clutton-Brock, J., Kitchener, A. C., & O’Brien, S. J. (2009). The taming of the cat. Scientific American, 300(6), 68.
  • Erat, S. (2023). Kedi ve köpek ırkları. İçinde E. Yarsan (Ed.), Kedi ve köpek hekimliği (Güncellenmiş 3. baskı, ss. 1-25). Güneş Tıp Kitabevleri. ISBN 9789752779464.
  • Erat, S., Arikan, Ş. (2012). The hair characteristics of Turkish Angora and Van cats. Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, 36(3), 215- 221. https://doi.org/10.3906/vet-0804-21
  • Eroğlu, T.; Altunok, V. (2007). Türkiyedeki bazı kedi ırklarının genetik yapılarının mikrosatellitlerle incelenmesi. Selçuk Üniversitesi Saglık Bilimleri Enstitüsü Biyokimya (Vet) Anabilim Dalı, Yüksek Lisans Tezi, Konya.
  • Güre, A. (1993). Van kedisi. İçinde A. Abdulkadiroğlu (Ed.), Van Kütüğü (No. 8, ss. 722-726). Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi.
  • Hart, B. L., Hart, L. A., Lyons, L. A. (2013). 11 Breed and gender behaviour differences: relation to the ancient history and origin of the domestic cat. The Domestic Cat: The Biology of its Behaviour, 155.
  • Kulturportali.gov.tr/turkiye/van/gezilecekyer/van-kedisi-evi: https://www.kulturportali.gov.tr/turkiye/van/gezilecekyer/van-kedisi- evi, Erişim tarihi: 02.12.2024.
  • Kurushima, J. D., Lipinski, M. J., Gandolfi, B., Froenicke, L., Grahn, J. C., Grahn, R. A., & Lyons, L. A. (2013). Variation of cats under domestication: genetic assignment of domestic cats to breeds and worldwide random‐ bred populations. Animal genetics, 44(3), 311-324. https://doi.org/10.1111/age.12008
  • Lipinski, M. J., Froenicke, L., Baysac, K. C., Billings, N. C., Leutenegger, C. M., Levy, A. M., ... & Lyons, L. A. (2008). The ascent of cat breeds: genetic evaluations of breeds and worldwide random-bred populations. Genomics, 91(1), 12-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygeno.2007.10.009
  • Macun, H. C., Erat, S., & Arıkan, S. (2011). Comparison of prenatal development of Turkish Angora and Van cats. Veterinarski arhiv, 81(5), 671-682.
  • Menotti-Raymond, M., David, V. A., Pflueger, S. M., Lindblad-Toh, K., Wade, C. M., O’Brien, S. J., & Johnson, W. E. (2008). Patterns of molecular genetic variation among cat breeds. Genomics, 91(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygeno.2007.08.008
  • Montague, M. J., Li, G., Gandolfi, B., Khan, R., Aken, B. L., Searle, S. M., ... & Warren, W. C. (2014). Comparative analysis of the domestic cat genome reveals genetic signatures underlying feline biology and domestication. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(48), 17230-17235. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1410083111
  • Odabaşıoğlu, F., Ateş, C.T. (2000). Van Kedisi. Selçuk Üniversitesi, Konya. Purbelltd.com/kedievi : https://purbelltd.com/kedievi, Erişim tarihi: 02.12.2024.
  • Salonen, M., Vapalahti, K., Tiira, K., Mäki-Tanila, A., & Lohi, H. (2019). Breed differences of heritable behaviour traits in cats. Scientific reports, 9(1), 7949.
  • Serpell, J. A. (2000). Domestication and history of the cat. The domestic cat: The biology of its behaviour, 2, 180-192.
  • Sfetcu, N. (2021). About Cats. Published by Nicolae Sfetcu.
  • Strain GM (2011): Deafness in dog and cats. CPI Group, Wallingford.
  • TICA (2024). https://tica.org/ticas-breeds/browse-all-breeds/ (Erişim tarihi: 04.12.2024).
  • Vigne, J. D., Guilaine, J., Debue, K., Haye, L., & Gérard, P. (2004). Early taming of the cat in Cyprus. Science, 304(5668), 259-259. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1095335
  • Zeder, M. A. (2008). Domestication and early agriculture in the Mediterranean Basin: Origins, diffusion, and impact. Proceedings of the national Academy of Sciences, 105(33), 11597-11604. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0801317105

Türkiye'nin Yerel Irklarından Ankara ve Van Kedilerinin Irk Özellikleri

Year 2025, Volume: 15 Issue: 1, 161 - 166, 26.06.2025

Selda Karadağ

https://doi.org/10.53518/mjavl.1612227

Abstract

Bu derleme, dünya genelinde tanınan yerli kedi ırklarımızdan Ankara ve Van kedilerinin sıklıkla karıştırılmasını önlemek amacıyla, genetik yapıları, fizyolojik özellikleri ve davranışsal farklılıklarını incelemekte ve bu ırkların doğru bir şekilde tanıtılmasına katkı sağlamayı amaçlamaktadır. Ankara ve Van kedileri, Türkiye’ye özgü iki önemli kedi ırkıdır ve her biri kendine özgü fizyolojik ve davranışsal özelliklere sahiptir. Ankara ve Van kedileri, genellikle beyaz tüy rengi ve benzer göz renkleri nedeniyle sıkça karıştırılmaktadır. Ancak, bu iki kedi ırkı arasında bazı belirgin morfolojik farklar bulunmaktadır. Van kedisinin yüz yapısı yuvarlak iken, Ankara kedisinin yüzü daha sivri bir şekle sahiptir. Ankara kedisinin gözleri yuvarlak iken, Van kedisinin gözleri badem şeklindedir. Her iki ırk da genellikle beyaz tüy rengine sahip olmakla birlikte, Van kedisinin baş ve kuyruğunda sarımsı lekeler gözlemlenebilmektedir. Van kedisinin tüy uzunluğu, genellikle Ankara kedisinin tüylerinden daha kısa olup, bu da her iki ırkın ayırt edilmesine yardımcı olan önemli bir başka farktır. Bu morfolojik farklılıklar, her iki ırkın birbirinden ayırt edilmesine olanak tanımaktadır. Ayrıca Ankara kedisi, sağırlıkla ilişkilendirilen W genini taşıyan nadir kedi ırkları arasında yer alırken, Van kedisi ise, suyu sevme özellikleriyle ünlüdür ve bu davranışları onları diğer kedi ırklarından ayırmaktadır.

Keywords

Ankara kedisi Van kedisi Yerli kedi ırkları Karakteristik özellikler

References

  • ACFA (2024). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Cat_Fanciers_Association (Erişim tarihi: 04.12.2024).
  • Almaç, Ç., F., Kaya, A. (2023). Investigations on the incidence of deafness in Van cats and its distribution by eye color. Ankara Universitesi Veteriner Fakultesi Dergisi, 70(2). https://doi.org/10.33988/auvfd.975163
  • Altunok, V., Yüksek, N., Berkman, C. C., Ağaoğlu, Z. T., & Togan, I. (2011). Genetic structure and variation of Van cats. Biochemical genetics, 49, 511-522. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10528-011-9426-8
  • Arikan, S., Duru, S. Y., Gurkan, M., Agaoglu, Z. T., & Giger, U. (2003). Blood type A and B frequencies in Turkish Van and Angora cats in Turkey. Journal of Veterinary Medicine Series A, 50(6), 303-306. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1439-0442.2003.00536.x
  • CCA-AFC (2024). https://www.cca-afc.com/About/ (Erişim tarihi: 04.12.2024).
  • CFA (2024). https://cfa.org/breeds/ (Erişim tarihi: 04.12.2024).
  • Çak, B. (2017). Turkish Van cat and Turkish Angora cat: a review. J Agric Sci Technol A, 7(3), 151-159. https://doi.org/10.17265/2161- 6256/2017.03.002
  • Driscoll, C. A., Menotti-Raymond, M., Roca, A. L., Hupe, K., Johnson, W. E., Geffen, E., Macdonald, D. W. (2007). The Near Eastern origin of cat domestication. Science, 317(5837), 519-523. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1139518
  • Driscoll, C. A., Clutton-Brock, J., Kitchener, A. C., & O’Brien, S. J. (2009). The taming of the cat. Scientific American, 300(6), 68.
  • Erat, S. (2023). Kedi ve köpek ırkları. İçinde E. Yarsan (Ed.), Kedi ve köpek hekimliği (Güncellenmiş 3. baskı, ss. 1-25). Güneş Tıp Kitabevleri. ISBN 9789752779464.
  • Erat, S., Arikan, Ş. (2012). The hair characteristics of Turkish Angora and Van cats. Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, 36(3), 215- 221. https://doi.org/10.3906/vet-0804-21
  • Eroğlu, T.; Altunok, V. (2007). Türkiyedeki bazı kedi ırklarının genetik yapılarının mikrosatellitlerle incelenmesi. Selçuk Üniversitesi Saglık Bilimleri Enstitüsü Biyokimya (Vet) Anabilim Dalı, Yüksek Lisans Tezi, Konya.
  • Güre, A. (1993). Van kedisi. İçinde A. Abdulkadiroğlu (Ed.), Van Kütüğü (No. 8, ss. 722-726). Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi.
  • Hart, B. L., Hart, L. A., Lyons, L. A. (2013). 11 Breed and gender behaviour differences: relation to the ancient history and origin of the domestic cat. The Domestic Cat: The Biology of its Behaviour, 155.
  • Kulturportali.gov.tr/turkiye/van/gezilecekyer/van-kedisi-evi: https://www.kulturportali.gov.tr/turkiye/van/gezilecekyer/van-kedisi- evi, Erişim tarihi: 02.12.2024.
  • Kurushima, J. D., Lipinski, M. J., Gandolfi, B., Froenicke, L., Grahn, J. C., Grahn, R. A., & Lyons, L. A. (2013). Variation of cats under domestication: genetic assignment of domestic cats to breeds and worldwide random‐ bred populations. Animal genetics, 44(3), 311-324. https://doi.org/10.1111/age.12008
  • Lipinski, M. J., Froenicke, L., Baysac, K. C., Billings, N. C., Leutenegger, C. M., Levy, A. M., ... & Lyons, L. A. (2008). The ascent of cat breeds: genetic evaluations of breeds and worldwide random-bred populations. Genomics, 91(1), 12-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygeno.2007.10.009
  • Macun, H. C., Erat, S., & Arıkan, S. (2011). Comparison of prenatal development of Turkish Angora and Van cats. Veterinarski arhiv, 81(5), 671-682.
  • Menotti-Raymond, M., David, V. A., Pflueger, S. M., Lindblad-Toh, K., Wade, C. M., O’Brien, S. J., & Johnson, W. E. (2008). Patterns of molecular genetic variation among cat breeds. Genomics, 91(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygeno.2007.08.008
  • Montague, M. J., Li, G., Gandolfi, B., Khan, R., Aken, B. L., Searle, S. M., ... & Warren, W. C. (2014). Comparative analysis of the domestic cat genome reveals genetic signatures underlying feline biology and domestication. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(48), 17230-17235. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1410083111
  • Odabaşıoğlu, F., Ateş, C.T. (2000). Van Kedisi. Selçuk Üniversitesi, Konya. Purbelltd.com/kedievi : https://purbelltd.com/kedievi, Erişim tarihi: 02.12.2024.
  • Salonen, M., Vapalahti, K., Tiira, K., Mäki-Tanila, A., & Lohi, H. (2019). Breed differences of heritable behaviour traits in cats. Scientific reports, 9(1), 7949.
  • Serpell, J. A. (2000). Domestication and history of the cat. The domestic cat: The biology of its behaviour, 2, 180-192.
  • Sfetcu, N. (2021). About Cats. Published by Nicolae Sfetcu.
  • Strain GM (2011): Deafness in dog and cats. CPI Group, Wallingford.
  • TICA (2024). https://tica.org/ticas-breeds/browse-all-breeds/ (Erişim tarihi: 04.12.2024).
  • Vigne, J. D., Guilaine, J., Debue, K., Haye, L., & Gérard, P. (2004). Early taming of the cat in Cyprus. Science, 304(5668), 259-259. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1095335
  • Zeder, M. A. (2008). Domestication and early agriculture in the Mediterranean Basin: Origins, diffusion, and impact. Proceedings of the national Academy of Sciences, 105(33), 11597-11604. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0801317105
There are 28 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language Turkish
Subjects Veterinary Sciences (Other)
Journal Section Review Article
Authors

Selda Karadağ 0000-0003-0571-9711

Publication Date June 26, 2025
Submission Date January 2, 2025
Acceptance Date March 14, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 15 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Karadağ, S. (2025). Türkiye’nin Yerel Irklarından Ankara ve Van Kedilerinin Irk Özellikleri. Manas Journal of Agriculture Veterinary and Life Sciences, 15(1), 161-166. https://doi.org/10.53518/mjavl.1612227
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