Past Post from g3niusgirl Website

I used to have a webiste called g3niusgirl g3nuine graphics. The following is a post I found from that now-defunct site:

2 June 2005 - Most cats are aloof and independent. My cat is the most affectionate creature with claws that I have ever known. Yumosh (Turkish for “soft”) is a Turkish Van cat, a huge ball of white and black fluff that loves being close to humans. He loves being in the same room with me. When I work at the computer, he curls up on my left foot. When I go to bed, he snuggles into the curve of my body and places his head next to mine. What a love!

Here’s a little information about Turkish Van cats for anyone who would like to own such a cat:

The Turkish Van is a loyal, loving and very intelligent cat. They are very affectionate, giving head butts and love bites, but to the uninitiated this could be slightly alarming, but when you get to know your cat you will begin to understand.
They are great climbers, so don't be surprised to find them sitting on top of doors, kitchen units or wardrobes, and some wouldn't think twice about climbing your curtains and sitting on the curtain rail. A great game is retrieving screwed up paper, some catching the ball of paper in mid flight, others making great somersaults.

Where water is concerned, some are not very keen at all, whereas others may love dripping taps, especially drinking from them, then flicking the water with their paws, or dropping toys into their water bowl. It has been known for Turks to swim in the bath, swimming pool or even the sea. So be warned they may come and join in your daily shower. They may also become curious about toilets, so DON'T LEAVE THE LID UP!

They like to be involved in everything their owners do and follow them around like a dog. In fact some people have said that Turkish Vans are more like dogs than cats. On the whole, they get on very well with dogs indeed, but the Turk will want to be the boss. In most instances the females are more independent and if you have a male and female, she will normally rule the roost, but there are always the exceptions.

24 March 2009 Update: Yumosh is still my cat. He continues to be affectionate with the addition of some annoying habits, like waking me up at 4am by putting his long whiskers in my face and then nipping at the bedcovers. He rarely drinks water from a dish: Insists on running water in the bathtub. He's still large: 21+ pounds. Not fat, just big. He's still a love.