Turkish Van vs Sumxu - Breed Comparison | MyCatBreeds

Turkish Van is originated from Turkey but Sumxu is originated from China. Both Turkish Van and Sumxu are having almost same weight. Both Turkish Van and Sumxu has same life span. Both Turkish Van and Sumxu has same litter size. Both Turkish Van and Sumxu requires Low maintenance.

History

turkish van - historyHailing from Turkey, the Turkish Van was brought to the UK in 1955 by 2 British women, Laura Lushington and Sonia Halliday.

These cats were used as the foundation stock of the breed. They were brought to the United States in 1982 and accepted into championship with the Cat Fanciers’ Association in 1994.

They are a very rare breed and no other breed is allowed to be mixed into the cat's breeding schedule. All registered Turkish Van cats can have their ancestry traced back to the imported cats of Laura Lushington.

The Sumxu is an odd-looking cat with its droopy ears or drop-ears. The truth is, the cat is considered extinct and the last reported Chinese lop-eared cat was way back in 1938.

According to reports, the cat seems to have first made an appearance in 1656 and was always described as a curiosity. It seems as if they were valued as pets but they were also used as food. A Polish man was the first Westerner to describe the Sumxu in his illustrated book Flora Sinensis. The breed was once found in and around Peking and resembled a long-haired Scottish Fold.

Basic Information

Origin:
Turkey
China
Weight Male:
3 - 8 kg
6 - 18 pounds
4 - 7 kg
8 - 16 pounds
Weight Female:
3 - 8 kg
6 - 18 pounds
4 - 7 kg
8 - 16 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
10 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
2 - 6
Other Names:
The Swimming Cat
None
Colors Available:
brown, White with other colors - red, black
Yellowish color
Coat:
Semi long haired
Long, silky, shiny
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

turkish van kitten - descriptionThis is a medium to large-sized cat weighing roughly 3 to 8kg. It’s a semi-long-haired domestic cat breed that was actually developed in the United Kingdom with a selection of cats from Turkey.

The breed is distinguished by the Van pattern where the color is restricted to the head and tail. So the cat is white with color on the head and the tail. The Turkish Van has no undercoat and the cat has a sleek appearance.

The cat is quite long and its back legs are slightly longer than its front legs. The paws are large and they are strong jumpers.

Temperament:

These cats are playful, active, and independent and they are also excellent hunters. They are affectionate and form strong bonds with their human families.

They get on well with kids as well as with other pets. Energetic and agile, they love to leap up onto high places. For a cat, they also have this fascination with water and may well follow their human into a swimming pool or lake.

The Chinese have always eaten this cat and because it has always been found in restrictive conditions the cat lost its keen sense of hearing because it no longer needed to hunt. The cat's ears lost their upright nature and became the hanging ears that are characteristic of the Chinese cat.

The cat had a long silky, shiny coat and was a dirty yellowy type of color. It had a ruff, a thick tail and blue, slanted eyes. It is thought that the size of the Sumxu was somewhat larger than the standard cat so he would have been a medium to large-sized cat, weighing in the region of 4 to 7kg. He was thick-set and muscular.

Temperament

It is thought that this cat wasn’t particularly active and that it seems to only become really animated when offered food, preferring to lie beside a warm fire than to be found outside. We can only assume that it was a fairly quiet cat.

Characteristics

turkish van cat - characteristicsLively, social, and intelligent, the Turkish Van is going to make you a wonderful pet and companion.

He is an active cat and will require you to play with him and provide some form of exercise for him.

He likes to leap up onto perches so getting him a climbing tree will serve him well as he is a cat that loves perching on high up places.

These cats are also low maintenance which simply adds to them being such perfect pets for single people, couples, families and seniors, just so long as he is provided with lots of love and care.

Not much is known of the character of the Sumxu cat as it is now extinct. It doesn't matter what kind of cat you have because every cat needs to be loved and well cared for. If you can't do that, then why get a cat in the first place.

One wonders what kind of pet the Sumxu cat would have made?

Health Problems

Always get vet help for your Turkish Van if you notice these signs -

Discharge or redness of the eyes

Scratching or shaking the head

Battling to urinate

Extreme and ongoing lethargy

Heavy breathing

Have your cat vaccinated against the deadly cat diseases there are.

Have your cat spayed or neutered.

turkish van kittens - health problemsYour Turkish Van counts on you to ensure his health and wellbeing. This will ensure he lives a long and healthy life.

Obesity is a major disease that contributes to many illnesses in cats. Excess weight is one of the factors for the development of arthritis and diabetes as well as some life-threatening diseases.

All kinds of parasites can invade your Turkish Van’s body. . Many types of parasites can be detected with a fecal exam, so a trip to your vet may be necessary.

The Sumxu cat should have seen the veterinarian every year for an examination and to make sure his vaccinations and deworming were up to date.

Every cat deserves to be taken to the vet when they are sick or injured.

It is never a good idea to give your cat medication that hasn't been prescribed by the vet. If the Sumxu cat had ingested a poisonous substance, it would have been kind to call the vet. It would have been dangerous for the Chinese to eat such a cat that had ingested poison.

While cats should be spayed and neutered, it is quite possible that the Sumxu cat was eaten before it ever had a chance to become a parent. Neutering and spaying a cat has health benefits for the cat and can prevent cancers.

Caring The Pet

turkish van cats - caringOne of the most important things with a cat is diet. The cat is a carnivore. Watch his diet, and make sure he gets plenty of meaty food.

Check with your vet if you aren’t sure how to feed your cat. There must always be a constant supply of fresh, cool water available and both food and water bowls must be washed regularly.

Regularly brush your cat’s coat gently and at the same time check the body over for any unusual lumps. If you discover a new lump, get your cat to the vet.

Be sure to schedule in your cat’s vaccinations as without these your cat can die from some of the more dangerous ones.

Another wise move, if at all possible, is to sign up for pet health insurance as then you won’t dread it financially when your vet requests medical tests be done on your cat.

There are simple things you can do to ensure the longevity of your beloved cat. Good food, exercise, fresh water, and plenty of love and attention.

Turkish Vans can have problems with their teeth. Teeth brushing can be massively traumatic and uncomfortable for your pet, but the best diet and vet care will ensure healthy teeth.

Have the nails trimmed.

Cats are meticulous about hygiene so ensure the litter box is kept clean. Remove the cat’s feces every single day.

One would have hoped that the now-extinct Sumxu cat received high-quality cat food. If you don't know what to feed your cat, your veterinarian will be able to advise you on the best diet. The cat food manufacturers always produce foods that take into account the cat's age and activity levels.

Certainly, every cat needs taurine, an essential amino acid, for heart and eye health. The food you choose for your cat should contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals.

You will need to provide fresh, cool water for your cat at all times. Wash and refill your cat’s water bowls regularly.

Take your pet to your vet for any signs of illness such as diarrhea, vomiting or lethargy.

The Sumxu cat would have required a brush every few days as the coat was long and silky. Brushing helps keep your cat's coat free of dust and loose hairs.

The Sumxu would have needed a warm, clean dry place to sleep.

Every cat that goes outdoors should have a collar and ID tag.

Your cat will need a litter box which should be placed in a quiet, accessible location. The Sumxu cat would not have liked feces in his litter box, and litter boxes of all cats should be kept clean.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Turkish Van vs Tabby - Breed Comparison
  2. Turkish Van vs Thai - Breed Comparison
  3. Turkish Van vs Tiger Cat - Breed Comparison
  4. Turkish Van vs Tonkinese - Breed Comparison
  5. Turkish Van vs Torby - Breed Comparison
  6. Turkish Van vs Tortoiseshell - Breed Comparison
  7. Turkish Van vs Toyger - Breed Comparison
  8. Turkish Van vs Traditional Siamese - Breed Comparison
  9. Turkish Van vs Turkish Angora - Breed Comparison
  10. Turkish Van vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  11. Turkish Van vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  12. Turkish Van vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  13. Turkish Van vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  14. Turkish Van vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  15. Turkish Van vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  16. Turkish Van vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  17. Turkish Van vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  18. Turkish Van vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  19. Turkish Van vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  20. Turkish Van vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  21. Turkish Van vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  22. Turkish Van vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  23. Turkish Van vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  24. Turkish Van vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
  25. Turkish Van vs Australian Mist - Breed Comparison
  26. Tabby vs Sumxu - Breed Comparison
  27. Thai vs Sumxu - Breed Comparison
  28. Tiger Cat vs Sumxu - Breed Comparison
  29. Tonkinese vs Sumxu - Breed Comparison
  30. Torby vs Sumxu - Breed Comparison
  31. Tortoiseshell vs Sumxu - Breed Comparison
  32. Toyger vs Sumxu - Breed Comparison
  33. Traditional Siamese vs Sumxu - Breed Comparison
  34. Turkish Angora vs Sumxu - Breed Comparison
  35. Turkish Van vs Sumxu - Breed Comparison
  36. Tuxedo vs Sumxu - Breed Comparison
  37. Ukrainian Levkoy vs Sumxu - Breed Comparison
  38. Ussuri vs Sumxu - Breed Comparison
  39. Viverral vs Sumxu - Breed Comparison
  40. Van Kedisi vs Sumxu - Breed Comparison
  41. York Chocolate Cat vs Sumxu - Breed Comparison
  42. Sumxu vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  43. Sumxu vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  44. Sumxu vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  45. Sumxu vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  46. Sumxu vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  47. Sumxu vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  48. Sumxu vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  49. Sumxu vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  50. Sumxu vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Cat Breeds