Halima Turkish Vans
 Michigans oldest established Turkish Van Cattery.

When searching for Turkish Van catteries on- line how can you tell you found a good one?

First and formost  You should feel comfortable with your breeder and know that you can ask questions at a later date. You should also get a health guarantee with your kitten that lasts at least a year and covers genetic issues that could come up.

If anything makes you question this breeder being right for you to have in your life a long time find another breeder.

The breeder should want you to come to the cattery and meet them in person even if just when you pick up your kitten to take home. Sometimes this is not possible due to living to far away but if you can go to their house. Remember it is their home so they may not allow you into every area of it but they should be glad to show you some of their cats.

The cats should not be kept in cages. Studs do need their own area but Turkish Vans would not do well in small cages. Queens and litters should be raised seperate from the other cats in the house until after first vaccines are given. Kittens should never go home before at least one set of vaccines is given usually between 8 and 9 weeks of age.

If the breeder agrees to let you have your kitten before 11 or 12 weeks of age please realize the kittens are not yet ready to leave their siblings until this age. They have much to learn from their littermates about being a cat taking them to early can cause them to display behaviors that are not always seen as favorable.

The kittens should be registered in at least one of the reputable associations CFA, TICA, and or ACFA.

There are many other things to consider and I will update this page periodically. The views on this page are what I believe and may differ from breeder to breeder. Enjoy the hunt for your Turkish Van.

Beware if a kitten is available as soon as you call. Be sure that this breeder is not a mass breeder that is just cranking out kittens with no regard to their welfare or their best interests. Most of the good breeders, that I know, have a waiting list because we spend a lot of time with each kitten in every litter and you can't do this with a large amount of kittens being produced. There is a big difference in the kittens that are produced in a cattery with smaller number of litters produced in a year or at a time. Once in a while a litter will come and not all kittens will be spoken for but not often.

Beware if the kittens at a breeder are "cheaper". It costs the most to raise a kitten after it is weaned. They are sold younger and cheaper by uncaring breeders to keep the cost down (thus raising profits) and to eliminate the time that is needed to be put into them. At this age, however, is when all of the socialization is so important in the Turkish Vans. You might also need to be cautious of someone selling a Turkish Van  at outrageously high prices. Be sure and check out breeders carefully.

Don't buy a kitten because you "feel sorry for it". You can be asking for a pack of problems and continue the breeding practice of a bad breeder.

If your kitten comes to you sick, with fleas, or a parasite tell the breeder and demand they fix the problem or please report them.

Buying a pedgreed kitten should be a fun adventure and a rewarding experience with a breeder that cares about what they are producing and constantly is working to be sure that the kittens that are produced are the best in health,  temperament and type.