Editing Turkish Van (section)

==Behavior==
{{More citations needed section|date=May 2014}}
The [[The International Cat Association|TICA]] standard{{r|TICA}} notes several characteristics, including their high intelligence, energy and playfulness – also making them somewhat mischievous. Muscular and highly driven, they like to climb and perch high up, to study their environment, and they get around their domain with impressive athleticism. They make quite successful hunters as a consequence. Their drive makes them easily trainable with positive reinforcement – to play fetch, do tricks or walk on a leash. Although there may be efforts to move the breed towards greater sociability.<ref name="Turkish Van Cats" /> a 2021 study in Finland<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mikkola |first=Salla |date=4 June 2021 |title=Reliability and Validity of Seven Feline Behavior and Personality Traits |journal=Animals |volume=11|issue=7 |pages=7 |doi=10.3390/ani11071991 |pmid=34359119 |pmc=8300181 |doi-access=free}}</ref> did find that the Turkish Vans in their research showed higher than average tendencies towards fearfulness, aggression towards humans, as well as a lower stress tolerance (notable excessive grooming and litter-box problems), and lower sociability to humans and cats.

Curious, Turkish Vans want to be with their owner participating in whatever is happening, and so they may follow a person from room to room.{{r|TICA}} While Turkish vans are affectionate to their family members, these are not normally lap cats. They may lie next to their owners and will happily allow themselves to be petted, but this is not a breed that tolerates being picked up and often wants to be {{em|near}} their owner, not {{em|on}} their owner.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Turkish Van |url= https://www.dailypaws.com/cats-kittens/cat-breeds/turkish-van |access-date=17 July 2021 |website=Daily Paws}} {{reliable source?|date=January 2023}}</ref>

Turkish Vans do well in a single-pet household and don't seem to suffer much from separation anxiety. When put in a home with other cats, they much prefer being around other Turkish Vans. Dogs can be no problem as long as they are introduced properly and patiently.<ref name=":0" />

When it comes to families, Turkish Vans are happy to play with children, but care must be taken to make sure small ones are reminded that the breed may not enjoy being held, and may strike out if forced into such a situation.<ref name=":0" /> The native [[Van cat]]s of Turkey have been nicknamed the "swimming cats", due to an unusual fascination with water.<ref name="Swimming" /> Despite the modern Turkish Van breed consisting almost entirely of pedigreed, indoor-only cats with no access to large bodies of water, and despite dubious connections between them and the cats of the Lake Van area, some feel that the Turkish Van has a notable affinity for water; for example, instead of swimming in a lake, they may stir their water bowls or play with water in the toilet,<ref name=":1" /> and some may even follow their owners into water.<ref name="Turkish Van Cats" /> However, the idea that the breed likes water more than other cats may be mistaken according to some pet writers.<ref name="Hart">{{cite book |first=Robert |last=Hart |title=Hart's Original Petpourri |volume=1 |page=4 |isbn=9781934938621 |publisher=Langdon Street Press |date=2010 }} Hart cites a ''Cat Fancy'' magazine article as his source.</ref>