The 4th Van Cat Beauty Contest organized by Van Yuzuncu Yil University's Van Cat Research and Application Center was held in Van province of Turkey on March 24, 2019. / VCG Photo

Competing against 24 other Van cats, a Van cat named Spak took first prize by earning 95 points as the purest specimen of the breed's characteristics. / VCG Photo

Van cats are a distinctive landrace of domestic cat, found in the Lake Van region of eastern Turkey and noted for their almond-shaped eyes that often are mismatched colors. / VCG Photo

The variety, which has been referred to as "the swimming cat" as it has been observed swimming in Lake Van, is an important cultural asset of the region. / VCG Photo