Many cat owners know of the struggle to get their beloved pets into a bath, however this Turkish breed loves nothing more than a swim.
The Van cat, native to the Van region in eastern Turkey, is known for its love of water, and to cater to these felines’ need for a dip, the local breeding centre has built custom-made cat pools.
The Van Cat House, run by the Van Yuzuncu Yil University, is dedicated to ensuring the endangered breed’s survival – and is making sure young kittens learn to swim.
Kitty paddles: One young Van cat is enjoying its first dip in the new swimming pool at the Van Cat House, run by the Yuzuncu Yil University, in Van, Turkey
Wet n’ wild: In its natural habitat, Van cats are known to go swimming in the local Lake Van
Look natural: In order to cater to these water-loving cats’ every need, the pools were built at the breeding centre
These adorable photos show some of the cats at the Van Cat House swimming in their pools after they were unveiled this week.
It is thought that the Van cat developed its love for swimming to hunt for fish in the nearby Lake Van.
In an attempt to replicate the natural habitat for the kittens at Van Cat House, the swimming pools were built specifically to suit the moggies.
Van cats are either completely white, or have markings on their head and tail, and many sport one blue and one amber or green eye.
Native: The Van cat is known to have been roaming the area around the city of Van and Lake Van for centuries
I’m done now: A kitten and a young cat have had enough of the pool for now
Fun day out: A number of young visitors look at the Van cats enjoying the swimming pool specially designed for them
This is my jam: The Van cat and its domesticated relative the Turkish Van are known for their love of water and swimming
Some of their notable personality traits include playfulness, friendliness and being very energetic.
The Van cats are the basis of the Turkish Van breed, a domesticated pure breed cat which is also known for enjoying a bath.
The breed has been roaming the area around Lake Van for centuries, however their numbers have dramatically declined in recent years.
After a survey in the early 1990s found only 92 pure Van cats living wild in the area, the Van Yuzuncu Yil University set up the Van Cat House, where some 100 young adults and kitten live.
Helping paw: The Van Cat centre was built to try to save the endangered breed in the 1990s
Van cats have white and silky fur, a long and fluffy tail, and many have different eye colours
A young visitor holds on e of the kittens during the opening ceremony of the swimming pool specially designed for the Van Cats at the Van Cat House