These unusual cats with their passion for water have fascinated me
 for years...  They hail from the Eastern part of Turkey, the Lake
 Van area to be exact.  The first Turkish Vans arrived in the West
 in the fifties and despite several imports from Turkey, it is still 
a very rare breed.   They are one of the oldest breeds of domestic 
cat we know, and actually developed slightly differently from other
 cats because of this.  One characteristic is their wide hips and 
shoulders.   They also have a very short coat in summer and a full 
coat in winter because the climate is so extreme in their country 
of origin.

Honey Bears

Honey Bears have a very distinctive appearance to match their unique and unusual personality. They have a broad head like the Persian with rounded, tufted ears and a nose that is medium to short in length.  Their round to almond-shaped eyes come in a variety of remarkable golden colors, including pure gold, greenish gold, goldish brown, and copper with a hint of orange.  Honey Bears are large, stocky cats with relatively short legs and rounded paws that display large tufts of fur. They have a shorter, fluffy tail that resembles either a skunk - or a raccoon, and is either held high or dragged low behind the Honey Bear. Honey Bears seldom shed, despite the long, luxurious coat. Occasional brushing is necessary to prevent matting. They also have rather unusual nails, which are constantly shedding their outer shells  and in some cases are unretractable. They require regular clipping to keep them from curling back on the paw and causing the cat discomfort.

Born with stripes, most kittens will lighten in color as they mature, although some Honey Bears coats darken with time and these stripes will reappear.  As they age, the Honey Bears coat colors will change, and these stripes may turn into spots, fade or even disappear. Remaining stripes are usually found on the tail, legs or head and face areas. Honey Bears are equally friendly to other household pets as they are with humans. They seldom show signs of aggression or territorialism, preferring to make friends with their house-mates. This calm, affectionate   breed is an excellent choice for owners with well-behaved children, as they are known to flee rather than fight, and have seldom been induced to scratch or bite.

With a unique spinal anatomy that differs slightly from that of conventional cat breeds, the Honey Bear is very flexible. They can flop down and get behind or under things - sometimes in very tight quarters. This "floppiness" is partially responsible for their name, as they will flop down and spread out on the floor as if stuck there by honey.  Alert and energetic, Honey Bears are excellent "bug hunters", and will diligently track flies, spiders and other bugs throughout your home. They have been known to jump several feet into the air in pursuit of their tiny prey. Honey Bears are great communicators. They have the uncanny ability to let you know exactly what they want at any given time.

Honey Bears are the true "Clowns" of the cat world. Their innate clumsiness causes them to land in some very comical situations. They love to chase and play, but are continually falling off of and bumping into things. Fortunately their limber bodies prevent them from coming to harm from this activity. They are particularly prone to falling off things while asleep, so it is best to encourage them to sleep in low places.  

Honey Bears are not as vocal as some cat breeds, and many of them do not purr or meow. They mature very slowly, and do not reach their full size until about 2 years of age. Males are generally larger than females, and can weigh between 12 and 17 pounds, while most females range between 8 to 12 pounds