Turkish Cats Standard of Points Comparison Matrix

There has been some discussion concerning the differences between the various types of Turkish Cat, and in particular some interesting comparisons have been made between the dominant white form of the Turkish Angora and the Turkish Vankedisi.

To clarify the situation and assist in separating the two breeds we first have to look at the various standards.  In the table below the Standard of Points for Turkish Vans, Turkish Vankedisi, and Turkish Angoras are compared side-by-side.  Since the Turkish Vankedisi is just a dominant white Turkish Van, we can use the Turkish Van standard as a guide to how a Turkish Vankedisi would be registered in CFA, TICA, and FIFE where they are not currently recognised.

Using this table, it is possible to identify the common traits between the registering bodies, and thereby highlight some key pointers that may be used to positively differentiate between the breeds.

 
  CFA TICA GCCF FIFE
    Turkish Van         Turkish Angora         Turkish Van         Turkish Angora         Turkish Van         Turkish Vankedisi         Turkish Van         Turkish Angora    
General solid,
broad-chested,
strong,
powerful,
well-balanced,
well-proportioned,
intelligent,
alert		 balanced,
graceful,
fine silky shimmering coat,
firm long muscular body		 solid,
strong,
powerful,
well-balanced,
well-proportioned,
alert,
large,
imposing		 graceful,
lithe,
soft flowing coat with long muscular body beneath,
intelligent,
active,
inquisitive		 large,
muscular,
powerful,
substantial body & legs,
well-balanced,
well-proportioned		 large,
muscular,
powerful,
substantial body & legs,
well-balanced,
well-proportioned		   well proportioned,
graceful,
lithe,
impression of grace and flowing motion
Head substantial broad wedge,
gentle contours,
medium length nose,
prominent cheekbones,
slight dip to profile,
firm chin,
rounded muzzle		 size small to medium,
shape medium long smooth wedge,
medium length nose,
flat head,
flat profile,
no break,
firm rounded chin,
no pinch or whisker pads		 size large to medium,
moderately broad rounded wedge,
high cheekbones,
slightly longer than wide,
slight dip to profile,
slight downward curve to nose,
rounded chin & muzzle,
definite whisker break,
medium short muscular neck		 small to medium,
smooth wedge,
flat head,
flat profile,
firm round chin,
medium slim graceful neck		 substantial broad wedge,
medium to long nose,
barely perceptible dip to profile		 substantial broad wedge,
medium to long nose,
barely perceptible dip to profile		 short blunted triangle,
medium long straight nose,
firm chin,
strong neck		 small to medium,
wedge shaped,
medium length nose,
gentle slope,
no stop or break,
rounded chin,
tapered jaw,
neck medium length,
slender,
graceful
Ears moderately large,
set fairly high,
well apart,
wide at base,
tips slightly rounded,
insides feathered		 large,
high on head,
close together,
wide at base,
pointed,
vertical & erect,
tufted		 moderately large to large,
set fairly high,
well apart,
wide at base,
tips slightly rounded,
insides feathered		 large,
high on head,
wide at base,
slightly pointed,
vertical & erect,
tufted		 moderately large,
fairly close together,
set high on head,
well feathered		 moderately large,
fairly close together,
set high on head,
well feathered		 large,
close together,
wide at base,
high and erect on skull,
slightly rounded tips,
well furnished		 long,
wide at base,
set high on head,
erect,
pointed,
well furnished and tufted
Eyes moderately large,
rounded,
drawn out at the corners,
set at a slant,
clear,
alert,
expressive		 large,
almond-shaped,
slanting slightly upwards,
open expression		 large,
rounded,
drawn out at corners,
set slightly oblique,
clear,
alert,
expressive		 large,
walnut shaped,
slanting slightly upward,
open expression		 large,
oval,
alert,
expressive		 large,
oval,
alert,
expressive		 large,
oval,
set slightly oblique		 large almond shape,
slanting slightly upwards
Body moderately long,
sturdy,
broad,
muscular,
deep-chested,
broad shoulders,
rounded ribcage,
muscular hips/pelvis,
shoulders as wide as head,
males much more developed		 medium size,
fine-boned,
long slender torso,
firm muscularity,
shoulders same width as hips,
rump higher that shoulders,
males slightly larger		 large imposing,
muscular neck,
sturdy long torso,
substantial musculature,
full-chest,
no hard angles,
rounded ribcage,
shoulders same width as head,
females not as large		 medium sized,
long and slender,
foreign type,
firm musculature,
narrow chest,
shoulders as wide as hips,
rump higher than shoulders		 long,
sturdy,
broad,
muscular,
deep-chested		 long,
sturdy,
broad,
muscular,
deep-chested		 long,
sturdy,
muscular,
medium heavy type		 fine-boned,
slender torso,
graceful,
lithe,
light-framed chest,
hind part higher than front
Legs & Feet moderately long muscular legs,
set wide apart,
rounded feet,
moderately large feet		 long legs,
hind longer than front,
small round dainty paws,
tufts preferable		 medium length forelegs,
hind legs slightly longer,
medium boned,
strong muscles,
neat round feet,
tufted toes		 long legs,
hind legs longer than front,
small oval feet,
tufts desirable		 medium length,
well-boned,
neat rounded feet,
tufted feet		 medium length,
well-boned,
neat rounded feet,
tufted feet		 medium long legs,
dainty round feet,
well tufted		 long legs,
hind legs longer than front,
small round dainty paws,
tufted
Tail long,
in proportion to body,
brush appearance,
hair length as per semi-longhair		 long,
tapering,
full brush		 medium length,
in proportion to body,
brush or plume,
adult hair at least 2"		 long,
tapering,
in proportion to body,
full plume		 length to balance body,
full brush		 length to balance body,
full brush		 medium long,
well furnished		 long and tapering,
well furnished
Coat semi-long,
cashmere-like,
soft to roots,
no undercoat,
short summer coat,
short facial fur,
neck ruff		 finely textured,
silk-like sheen,
single coated,
length varies,
long ruff and tail hair,
britches on hind legs		 semi-longhair,
soft
cashmere-like,
no woolly undercoat,
short summer coat,
short facial fur,
neck ruff		 semi-longhair,
silky and fine,
wavy on stomach,
slight undercoat (appears single-coated),
medium long in length		 long,
soft and silky to roots,
no woolly undercoat,
winter coat longer and heavier,
neck & chest ruff		 long,
soft and silky to roots,
no woolly undercoat,
winter coat longer and heavier,
neck & chest ruff		 semi-long,
fine silky texture,
no woolly undercoat		 medium length,
long at the frill,
fine,
silk-like sheen,
no undercoat,
slightly wavy on belly
Coat Colour chalk-white body,
no chocolate or
lavender etc,
no pointing		 any
except chocolate &
lavender etc,
no pointing		 white body,
all traditional colours		 any chalk-white body,
black/brown/blue/auburn/cream + tortie/tabby combinations		 chalk-white,
some yellow-tingeing on tail acceptable but undesirable		 chalk-white body,
black/blue/auburn/cream + tortie/tabby combinations		 any except chocolate/lilac/cinnamon/fawn and pointed
Coat Pattern van-pattern,
confined to head and tail desirable,
white blaze desirable,
non-distracting random markings permissible,
max 20% colour on body		 any van-pattern,
ideally confined to head and tail,
blaze desirable,
non-detractive random spotting permissible up to 20%		 any coloured brush,
coloured head markings,
not below eyeliners,
not beyond rear of ears,
white blaze,
occasional small thumbprints & some colour up back and beyond limits acceptable but undesirable		 none colour on rump and tail,
colour on face with white blaze,
some small irregular colour patches acceptable but undesirable		 any
Eye Colour amber or blue,
may fade with age		 any,
deep richer tones preferred		 amber or blue,
may fade,
amber may develop greenish cast		 any,
clarity & uniformity paramount		 blue or light to medium amber,
may fade with age,
amber may develop greenish tinge with age		 blue or light to medium amber,
may fade with age,
amber may develop greenish tinge with age		 blue or light amber all
Penalties evidence toward extremes (short, cobbiness, svelte, fine-boning),
definite nose-break,
colour/genetic/skeletal defects		 oversized,
coarse appearance,
cobby body,
genetic/skeletal defects		 evidence toward extremes (short, cobbiness, svelte, fine-boning),
flat profile		 cobby body,
oriental head or body		 siamese persian or british type,
light-boned,
undersized,
no van-pattern,
white on tail,
orange/copper eyes,
genetic/skeletal defects		 siamese persian or british type,
light-boned,
undersized,
coat colour other than white,
orange/copper eyes,
genetic/skeletal defects		   persian body-type