2. Recognition of the all-white Turkish Van

More cats were imported from Turkey to Europe to be used for the breeding of the all-white Turkish Van. They were bred to Van patterned Turkish Vans and all-white male and female offspring was sold to the UK and to the United States, where they had also learned about this original color of the Turkish Van.

Today, approximately 75 all-white Turkish Vans are registered in different organizations worldwide and all-white Turkish Vans can now be found in almost every Turkish Van pedigree. About 15 to 20 registered breeders are using all-white Turkish Vans for their breeding program.

2.1 GCCF

On February 23d, 2005, the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF, UK) granted Preliminary recognition for the all-white Turkish Van (Turkish Vankedisi) with immediate effect. The cats can be shown in the Semi-longhair section at GCCF licensed shows in Assessment classes.

2.2 LOOF

In 2004, The French Governing Council of Cat Fancy, the LOOF, approved the addition of the all-white Turkish Van (le blanc uni est accepté) to the Turkish Van standard.

2.3 TICA

On September 1st, 2006, the TICA Board Of Directors met in Hanover (Germany) and approved the addition of the all-white Turkish Van cat (Vankedisi) to the Turkish Van Standard. This change made the white Turkish Van eligible for registration and championship competition alongside the patterned Turkish Van effective May 1st, 2007. TICA is the world's largest genetic cat registry with cats shown and registered worldwide. The effort to include the all-white Turkish Van was organized by members of the TICA Turkish Van Breed section with support from members on three continents and in five countries with a lot of support and help from many Turkish nationals. It is hoped that this change will help the white Turkish cats to be considered as one of the treasures of Turkey that should be preserved and appreciated throughout the world.

2.4 WCF

On March 31, 2007, at the WCC-show in Dortmund (Germany), 15 specimens of the all-white Turkish Van will be presented to the judges. Hopefully this will result in the WCF's decision to also make the white Turkish Van eligible for registration and championship competition alongside the patterned Turkish Van in the World Cat Federation (WCF).