Harvey’s 37 Cats in North Cyprus

Introduction

We are in Northern (Turkish) Cyprus (see map for location) today to have a look at some of Harvey Harrison’s 37 cats. Yes, he cares for 37 cats. That puts him in the top rank of cat carekers. No wonder he knows a lot about cats, especially Turkish Angoras. Dee, in Florida, sounds as if she cares for a similar number. Harvey is a regular contributor to PoC, as is Dee. Harvey owns the Angorarama Cattery, Mersin 10, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Firstly, I’d like to mention that it is important to me that PoC shows off cats from around the world. Websites can be accessed by almost anyone, anywhere. They should contain information and stories about cats everywhere and not be limited to Europe and the USA. Thank you Harvey for letting me create this page.

We know that Turkey is an important country in the world of cats because one of the founding domestic cats is the Turkish Angora. There is a woolly demarcation between two famous Turkish cat breeds: Turkish Angora and Turkish Vans. The Angora is the better know of the two. Are all 37 of Harvey’s cats Turkish Angoras? I reckon they are. Are all cats in Turkey either Angoras or Vans? I hope that Harvey will leave a comment on that.

This is what Harvey says about his cats in response to my question, “how many cats do you care for?”

Harvey On His Cats

I have a video of my cats and kittens in my bedroom when they were at the growing up stage when socialisation is important.

I am a long way short of 600 [the number a Turkish lady keeps] but still I have too many. That conclusion is arrived at on account of not having much time left over for anything else.  In total I have 37 cats.

However 8 live outside permanently and 7 are inside outside cats. 3 including my valuable Minos live in an outside enclosed patio, and there are 5 smelly toms in a purpose-built cattery with A/C.  The cattery also houses Chulita my white short haired Anatolian with her neutered male kitten Arkos.

Arkos is better off inside permanently because he is over-excitable and soon gets into trouble.  The first time I tried him outside he fell half-way down the side of a shallow ravine and I had to rescue him at some risk to myself. He is unhappy by himself but both he and his mother are clearly very happy together.

Interestingly the permanent outsiders rarely wander far and are usually within a short distance of the house.  They have around 2,000 m2 of my own garden to romp around plus perhaps several square kilometres of olive and orange groves, bushes, woodlands,  etc. (see photo)  They are obviously satisfied with being close to home.

The remainder of the cats are inside the house distributed and separated according to a well-worked out plan. Needless to say these are the cats that have clean habits and get along well together. The house is 322 m2 so there is plenty of space for some cats.

Inside the house there are 3 intact tom-cats.  Two of them are inside outsiders, but none of them mark their territory and only use their litter boxes.  The 3rd tom, Karan (see photo), can only survive inside the house because he panics when he gets even just a short distance from his usual domain which is the kitchen. Recently he has been showing a little interest in the outside,  just peeking out and I hope one day he will be confident enough to at least spend some time on the kitchen terrace.  He is very affectionate and although highly strung is very nice with the other cats. This is a photo of him:

Two of my Angoras are booked to go to France on Oct 25th so that will be a little help.  Orkide, probably my best ever Turkish Van kitten went recently to her for-ever home.  Her mother Fatima never noticed!

….most of my indoors cats show no interest at all in going outside even with a door or window left open. This is just as well because my beautiful white cats would soon be snapped up by Turkish Angora/Van lovers.”

Note: Thanks again Harvey for telling us about your cats in Northern Cyprus. If you want me to change or add something, just say…Michael