This breed takes a full 3 to 5 years to reach full maturity and development, therefore allowances must be made for age and sex. Turkish Vans are very intelligent and alert cats, and as such feel more secure, and handle better with all four feet on a solid surface. Substantially broad wedge, with gentle contours and a medium length nose to harmonize with the large muscular body, ears are not to be included in the wedge. In profile, the nose has a slight dip below eye level marked by a change in the direction the hair lays. Allowances must be made for jowling in the males.
Tips are slightly rounded.
Insides should be well feathered. Moderately large, a rounded aperture slightly drawn out at the corners, set at a slant, equidistant from the outside base of the ear to the tip of the nose. Eyes should be clear, alert and expressive. Mature males should exhibit marked muscular development in the neck and shoulders. The shoulders should be at least as broad as the head, and flow into the well-rounded ribcage and then into a muscular hip and pelvic area.