Van Kedisi vs Serengeti - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

This is a cat breed that was deliberately bred to resemble the Serval cat. It was developed by crossing a Bengal cat and an Oriental Shorthair.

The cat was developed by biologist Karen Sausman in California in 1994. The breed is still under development.

The idea with this hybrid cat was to produce new domestic cat breed that would look like a wild cat but not have the wild characteristics.

The cat is recognized by TICA – The International Cat Association.

The Van Kedisi cat or Cat of Van as it is also known is a domestic cat that hails from the Lake Van region of Turkey.

There are historians who agree that the domestic cat originated in Egypt. The actual cat was developed in the United Kingdom from a host of cat types from Turkey. During the late 1990s the Van Cat became an informal municipal symbol of the city.

These are spotted cats with long legs and large, round-tipped ears. The neck is long and the body lithe, lean, and muscular.

They are medium to large in size and can weigh up to 7 or 8kg. The coat is tan and cream with silver or grey coloring as well as black spots and stripes. Some Serengetis appear to be black but on closer look, you see that they have what is known as ‘ghost spotting’ – a black-spotted pattern that can scarcely be seen.

You may even think you are looking at a black panther. The coat is short, silky, smooth, and sleek. The eyes of the cat are round and are usually amber or gold.

Temperament:

The Serengeti is a friendly, social, and confident cat that is quite capable of forming a strong attachment to its human family. It is a loving, loyal cat. The cat can become bored and will need plenty of puzzle toys to keep his mind and body physically active.

You will need to provide him with a scratching post too as he is a lively, energetic cat. This isn’t only an indoor cat. Cats like the Serengeti will need an outdoor enclosure and the Serengeti cat will need branches and perches to leap up onto.

He is an active cat and can become bored if left indoors. They are capable of making a good family pet and are vocal too – telling you all sorts of things.

The Van Kedisi cat is a large feline with a soft, silky white coat, which he often sheds in the Summer. There is usually color on the head and tail – a yellow apricot color. The coat is descibed as seni-long.

He can reach up to 10kg in weight. The cats are lean and long-legged and they also like to swim. The eyes are almond-shaped eyes and are often odd-colored. One eye might be green and the other blue.

Temperament:

Van Kedisi cats have a strong wild side to them, but in spite of this they love getting attention from their human owners. In fact, they demand it or else they can become disgruntled. It's the kind of cat that can adapt to new environments and he is intelligent enough to be able to be trained.

The Serengeti is both a friendly and affectionate cat even though he is a bit shy and overwhelmed in new surroundings.

He is a cat that talks quite a bit and if he is happy and content he enjoys 'chatting' to you about his day.

He is able to get on well with children in the home as well as with other pets. He is an athletic cat and just loves to climb, and this is why he will certainly need an outdoor enclosure as he loves to dart around madly from time to time, and doing that in your home could be quite dangerous.

He is capable of being a loving cat breed and can form a strong bond with his human family.

Van Kedisi cats are intelligent and friendly and they make excellent companions.

They are lively cats and love playing games with their humans. They will need stimulation from interactive toys. He also loves to leap up onto high perches and watch things from his elevated position.

If you have decided to have a Van Kedisi in your home, expect things to joyful and entertaining as this cat likes to build a strong bone with his human owners.

Hybrid Cats such as the Serengeti are a combination of a wild breed and a domestic breed. With good care he can live to be up to 15 years of age and possibly longer.

Hybrid cats are always controversial because people who have owned them have got both good and bad to say about them. They have some behavioral issues and many of them have an aggressive side, they’re aloof and they refuse to use a litter box. The cat can’t be blamed though because they have that wild side.

They also come with some health issues such as premature birth, miscarriage, diarrhea, and irritable bowel disease. You may just find yourself more often at the vet than you’d like.

You will need to ensure that your Serengeti gets all his vaccines and de-worming treatments.

A healthy meat diet for your cat is like a ticket to good health. Cats are carnivores and they rely on you to supply them with food high in protein.

Cats battle to absorb protein derived from plants. Learn to check your food labels to ensure the food contains animal meat. Meat from chicken and tuna is good.

Regular visits to the vet when you suspect that your cat is ill will give you the chance to catch any diseases in their early stages.

Grooming is easy for the Serengeti as it is a short-haired cat and will require a brush just once a week. Trimming the claws will also be necessary.

A cat such as the Serengeti has been developed by crossing the domestic cat with a wild breed. This means that there will be concerns with the temperament and behavior of these cats in a home setting. Apart from being allowed indoors, they will need an outside enclosure.

Having a wild side, while every cat is a carnivore, these cats are even more so. Their diet has to be strictly protein – meat. Wild cats would have a diet made up of birds and lizards. You want to avoid commercial cat foods that are of lower quality and have less meat in and more carbohydrates. This just spells ill health for your cat. Cats also need some fresh raw meat in their diets.

It is important to keep up your Serengeti's veterinary checkups to make sure there aren’t any health concerns.

Brush your Van Kedisi each week because the semi longhair can become matted and tangled if not brushed each week.

The Van Kedisi will need to be vaccinated. As a kitten he will need to be vaccinated against deadly cat diseases. While at the vet he will also be dewormed.

As your cat matures, you will need to make sure that he is free from parasites. Ticks, fleas, and heartworm can cause havoc with your pet and the vet can advise you on a treatment plan.

Have your cat neutered or spayed as not only will it prevent unwanted kittens, but the procedure can have health benefits for your cat too. It can eliminate the possibility of your cat getting some of the many cancers there are. Spaying and neutering also has a positive impact on your cat’s personality.

These are big, strong cats and the temptation will be to overfeed him. They enjoy their food and can easily put on weight. Obesity can bring about many different diseases in your cat.

It is up to you as a responsible cat owner to ensure your ca doesn’t put on a lot of weight but rather maintains a healthy weight.  You should also make sure that your feline friend gets regular exercise through playing, walking, and even swimming. These cats enjoy a swim, particularly when it is with their human owners.

Provide your cat with attention and play with him every day. They are playful, intelligent cats and it boosts his morale to have his favorite human playing with him.

Allow opportunities for scratching and climbing. The Van Kedisi loves to climb and scratch – two natural behaviors of cats. Supply him with a scratching post and a climbing tree to get the exercise he needs.

Provide your cat with a litter box, water and food bowls and a nice, soft bed.