By refusing to allow polys to be shown.. we are encouraging breeders to select not for type but for the presence of extra toes.
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Danforth Study:
Charles Danforth (Dept of Anatomy, Stanford University School of Medicine) was one of the first to study polydactyly in cats (1949). He raised polydactyl cats in his laboratory and reported on 234 normal and polydactyl kittens in 55 litters. His matings reflected a simple dominant trait with good penetrance but variable expression and he concluded that there was no evidence that the homozygous form was naturally lethal.
Pflueger Study:
Dr Pflueger (MD, PhD, FACMG) is considered one of the world's leading geneticists. In her 1998 article in the Cat Fanciers Journal 1998 she states: "it does not appear to affect the cat adversely and is not known to be associated with other anomalies".
Dr Pflueger discussed the rare Twisty Cat gene. In a conversation with the author stated categorically that these 2 genes were quite different genes, that the Twisty gene has never been seen in the Maine Coon Cat.
Effects
There are no documented ill effects of the polydactyl gene in the Maine Coon. It is a totally benign and harmless gene with the single effect of producing extra toes on the paws. The extra toes can be on the front feet only or on all four feet.
In their 1980 book Wright and Walters comment on polydactylism; "(it) 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 (Bone and Joint Specialist, Auburn College of Veterinary Medicine) who states "Polydactylism is a fairly common anomaly in cats that is not detrimental to their orthopaedic soundness"
Prevalence
It is estimated that 40% of the original Maine Coon population was polydactyl.
"The traditional MC was frequently a polydactyl or many-toed cat, a genetic mutation that occurs with great frequency in the upper north-eastern United States…" Marilis Hornidge in "That Yankee Cat" the definitive book of the Maine Coon.
Those original breeders who instigated the acceptance of the Maine Coon clearly intended the polydactyl standard to be implemented as soon as the breed cemented its championship status. Early correspondence and literature dating back to 1969, shows that polydactyl cats were always intended to be accepted for showing and they were never viewed as deformed or detrimental. The official publication of the Maine Coon Breeders and Fanciers Assoc., the "Scratch Sheet" of 1970 clearly shows that there was (and still is) a Maine Coon Polydactyl Standard voted in by the membership.
Many straight toed Maine Coons have polydactyl cats in their ancestry; "A crude analysis of members web sites of the two GCCF affiliated Maine Coon Clubs in the UK show that of those with pedigrees or pedigree names on their web sites that can be traced, 63% of these breeder members have polydactyls within the first 5 generations of at least one of their Dams pedigrees." Lucinda King.
Breed Standard and Showing
Polydactyl Maine Coons are accepted for registration and breeding throughout the world. No registry makes it imperative to have it marked on the registration papers or has taken any step to have them removed from the breed.
Other countries allow Polydactyls of other breeds (Pixie-Bobs) to be shown. There does not appear to be prejudice against polydactyly per se, just paradoxically in the one breed where it was a major part of the breed's heritage.
Sarah Hartwell:
"Many cat registries happily recognise breeds defined by mutations which can have lethal or crippling effects such as spina bifida in the Manx, but refuse to permit polydactyl cats as either breeds or breed variants.
The blunt statement is that polydactyly is a fault and cats with such defects are not allowed to be shown. This is a totally inconsistent approach since tailessness is also a fault, yet the Manx breed is perpetuated and shown. There are far fewer detrimental side-effects associated with polydactyly than there are with the Manx. The usual argument in these cases is that the Manx is a historical breed, even though the polydactyly trait is equally historical. …. It has to be noted that cat fancies are consistently inconsistent in their approach in such matters!"
There is no scientific reason (no adverse effects etc) to refuse to recognise polydactyls. The conclusion therefore must be that they are prejudiced against because of political reasons.
By refusing to allow these cats to be judged alongside the usual toed Maine Coons we are encouraging breeders to select not for type, but for the presence of extra toes. Cat Registration bodies are denying breeders who wish to work with this integral part of the breeds heritage, the opportunity to have their cats judged by experts against the written breed standard.
Susan Grindell, BSc, BOptom, MSc
Pages of this article
References:
1. Greene, Dr Alan. http://www.drgreene.com
2. Hartwell, Sarah. 2001-2004, http://www.messybeast.com/poly-cats.html
3. Danforth C H. "Heredity of Polydactyly in the Cat", Journal of Heredity,
4. Pflueger , Solveig. "Polydactyly and Related Traits" Cat Fanciers' Journal Fall 1998
5. Conversation between S Pflueger and S Grindell, 25 May 2005
6. Scratch Sheet approx Spring 1970. The official publication of the MCBFA. see this page for copy of the Scratch Sheet.
7. Interview transcript: http://www.pawpeds.com/MCO/mchs/articles/DonShaw3.html
8. Private letter Sept 29, 1973 to Mrs Gould from Rodney A Ljostad President, MCBFA. See this page for copy of the letter from MCBFA archives
9. King, Lucinda. "So What Happened to the Maine Coon Polydactyls?" Maine Attraction, 2004
Acknowledgement:
I would like to thank Lucinda King (UK) for her generous help and support in the writing of this presentation.
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