“NOTICE
We had hoped by this time that we would have an MCBFA Maine Coon Standard that we could print in this issue. However we have stubbed our toe on two divergent ideologies concerning polydactylism.
An article is being written which will set forth both the arguments for and against polydactylism... We hope to have this ready for our next issue.”
MCBFA Scratch Sheet Jan 1969“MCBFA Polydactyl Standard ---- Our MCBFA Polydactyl Standard has been voted in by our membership, and the wording is as follows:
“The Maine Coon Polydactyl Cat should conform to the Standard of the Maine Coon Cat, with the exception that multiple toes are allowed on either fore or hind paws, or both.
Polydactyl Registerations: --- We are considering the possibility of requesting registering organisations to include the letter P with the registeration numbers on all poly cats. At the present time there is no way of tracing polydactylism by looking at a pedigree. This would be a boon to breeders, but will take some study.”
MCBFA Scratch Sheet Spring 1970
“We soon discovered that our task was not simple. We decided at an early date to concentrate on the usual Maine Coon and postpone efforts o n such variants as polydactyls ... until such time as some progress had been made."
Letter from the MCBFA Vice-President to a Mrs Benner, June 6, 1970.
" ... we finally acquired a marvellous oil painting of a family of these cats. In desperation I finally said to the dealer that I just must HAVE the painting to go with my Maine Cat research and the cats themselves. The dealer replied that if he had known I was aware of what this painting represented, he would have sold it to me immediately, as he had no intention of ever parting with the canvas to anyone other than a lover of Maine Cats, and he really never expected to find such a buyer! The large and perfect canvas shows a white female with two kittens; one a white, the other a brown tabby poly. The painting with all it's history with it and is dated 1876!"
The author of the above is Delanne L DuBois, All Saints Cattery, Houston, Texas
MCBFA Scratch Sheet, Winter 1970
“A male calico Maine Coon Cat, belonging to .... has been missing since last Thanksgiving. He was born June 19, 1970, is polydactyl on all four feet .... This cat took home eighteen ribbons, rosettes and trophies from the Detroit show. If you should see or hear about this cat, please contact ....”
MCBFA Scratch Sheet, Summer 1971
“We have a six toed kitten in our house too. You are right that they are not accepted at cat shows yet. We knew that many Maine Coon Cats were polydactyl and did not want this trait to get entirely lost from the breed. Then we heard that some of the breeders who had these cats were no longer breeding from them. So my wife and I decided we had better get one and keep this trait going in the breed.” Letter from the Vice-President to a Mrs Gould dated September 29, 1973
“The form of polydactly most often seen in cats is the result of a simple autosomnal dominant trait. It does not affect the cat adversely and is not know to be associated with other anomalies.”
“The fact that more than one form of polydactyly appears to be present in the cat should serve as a caution for breeders who wish to work with polydactyl cats. Special care should be taken in selecting breeding stock and cats with triphalangeal thumbs should probably be avoided as foundation cats.”
Solveig Pflueger MD, PhD, FACMO (1998) 'Polydactyly and Related Traits' Cat Fanciers Journal Fall 1998
“Descriptions of individual polydactyl cats feet were published as early as 1868”
Janet Marr, (1998) 'Polydactyl Maine Coons. A Part of America's Yankee Heritage” Maine Coon International, Issue 15:3/98
“As discussed by Wright and Walters (1980), polydactylism does “not seem to do the animal any harm ... the same cannot be said for a number of other feline abnormalities caused genetically.” This is backed up by Dr Montgomery ... who states “Polydactylism is a fairly common anomaly in cats that is not detrimental to their orthopedic soundness.”
Lucinda King (2004) 'What Happened to the Maine Coon Polydactyl' Maine Attraction, Issue 7 September 2004
“Because double-pawed or polydactl cats have been a New England favourite for almost 300 years, one an trace the last three centuries migration of region resident by keeping an eye out for these large footed felines.”
Janet Marr (2004) When They Had Jobs', Maine Attraction, Issue 7, September 2004
By Lucinda King
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