The cats ears sit quite high on their heads, and their bodies are long and broad - often reaching three feet in length. Turkish Van cats are considered on of the largest of the domestic breeds and are quite massive at maturity - the only cat that cannot follow its head through a fence due to the breadth of the chest. Aside from the large chest and shoulders they have broad muscular hips. The width of the pectoral and pelvic girdles give the Turks quite a distinctive swaggering gate. Fully mature males weigh anything from 9 - 12 kg's.
Females are substantially smaller.
The tails seem to function totally on their own. Even when the cat is asleep, its tail remains active and the cat will eventually grab its own tail and pin it under its legs for a more peaceful nap. This is a very intelligent breed that can be taught to perform tasks. They are happy to walk on leads and join the family dogs for a walk. When it comes to courage, it is a known fact that the van has the heart of a lion.