Are your cupboards popped open? Have closed doors mysteriously unlatched? Did some food disappear off your plate while your head was turned? No, your house isn't haunted. You live with a Turkish Van.

LIFE IN THE VAN LANE
If you favor cats that spend hours lounging on the couch, quietly keep to themselves and shyly retire from visitors, then the high-energy, athletic Turkish Van is not for you. Vans thrive on mental stimulation and interaction with owners.

Books say cats sleep 18 hours a day. I don't think this breed does, says Maryland-based breeder Diane Marcus. A Van breeder since 1994 and a former Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) breed council secretary, Marcus is never bored because of the breeds intelligence. I've seen them hide their toys so that they can then hunt for them, she says.

Make sure to have plenty of feather teasers and balls about, says Karen Hooker, current Turkish Van CFA breed council secretary. South Carolina-based Hooker has bred Vans with her friend Deb Hayes since 1988. They like to play with a variety of things, some of which you may not want them to play with such as your socks, Hooker says. Some actually enjoy fetching and retrieving. You can throw a crumpled paper ball or their favorite furry mouse, and they'll keep bringing it back to you for more. One particularly playful cat of mine was very insistent that I play fetch with him. He retrieved every ball in the house and deposited them on my pillow while I slept!

Just because Vans are always on the go doesn't mean they don't love affection. I consider the breed as very loving and affectionate, although this is sometimes not displayed the same way as in many other breeds, Hooker says. They love to be petted and stroked and like the interaction, but most do not feel comfortable with four feet off of the ground. Because they feel insecure when held, they will often start to wiggle until you let them down. At this point, they don't run off no hard feelings! but will often rub against your leg as if to remind you how they like their affection.

**For the full article, pick up the June issue of CAT FANCY**