Polydactyl Cats

Originally Posted by mamacat

Whoa! Cats with thumbs! I didn't know that was possible. We better watch out. With the attitude and intelligence that kitties have, I figured it was only their lack of thumbs that was keeping them from taking over the world. But now...

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I love all your "mittens" cats! I wish mine had some extra toes LOL I would be playing with the toes all the time

Aww beautiful pics, I love all the little mittens!

OK, here's a new pic of Chuckie

Cute!

Originally Posted by Sicycat

When Zoey plays I find that it is much easier for her to grab the toys right out of my hands with her big fat oven mitts

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(Oven mitts)

Sicycat, stick an extra long nose on your Zoey and you'd have Merlin's identical twin! Mer has the same sort of thumbs!

I wish I could post picks of Mer, but I have neither a scanner nor digital camera.

I love polys. We have three cats with thumbs at the shelter, and one that has front dewclaws that touches the ground, but is attached to the rest of the foot. I actually found out after I started volunteering at the shelter where I got Mer that there was a family that called right after I had filled out the paperwork for him, who were willing to drive from West Virginia (I'm talking a couple hours drive) to adopt him. Just because he was a poly! It seems when people look for them they never find them, and then there are a few of us lucky ones who just trip over them somewhere!

I read that it happens most frequently with the Maine Coon breed. (Something like 40% of purebreds are polys.) And that there are some breeders who are trying to create a pure polydactyl Maine Coon line. I think that's so cool! I could never handle the long hair, but I'd be extra tempted 'cause of the extra toes!

Woohoo a new Poly thread! Thanks for starting it Sicy - I am enjoying seeing all the lovely polys again!

Originally Posted by wodesorel

It seems when people look for them they never find them, and then there are a few of us lucky ones who just trip over them somewhere!

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That's exactly what happened with Zoey! I just found her at my shelter. She was too gorgeous to pass up, and I only noticed her toes a little bit later.

Can anyone tell me where the poly toe gene comes from? I have a momma cat who gave birth to four kittens. Three of them have thumbs, but the momma and one of the kittens do not. Is it a recessive gene that the momma could be carrying or is it because the papa has the polydactyl paws?

Originally Posted by WellingtonCats

Woohoo a new Poly thread!

Thanks for starting it Sicy - I am enjoying seeing all the lovely polys again!

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I love my Munchie

Maine Coons are even allowed to have up to 7 toes per Paw and be show Quality. In some cases it's a boon in the judging!

Originally Posted by Maskie

Can anyone tell me where the poly toe gene comes from? I have a momma cat who gave birth to four kittens. Three of them have thumbs, but the momma and one of the kittens do not. Is it a recessive gene that the momma could be carrying or is it because the papa has the polydactyl paws?

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Maskie, here's a great site that discusses genetic anomolies in cats:

http://www.messybeast.com/gene-anomalies.htm

Polydactyly is covered near the bottom of the page.

More poly info:

http://www.messybeast.com/poly-cats.html

Munchie's got hands like a dude!

He's awesome! Please give him pettings and a headbutt for me!

Originally Posted by Sicycat

When Zoey plays I find that it is much easier for her to grab the toys right out of my hands with her big fat oven mitts

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Clearly, your cat has evolved I love her big pink feet!!!

I'm kinda glad that my Addie doesn't have extra toes--if she had any more strength in her hands I'd be in big trouble

Originally Posted by hissy

Here is Prowler

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hissy - i can't see Prowler!

MUNCHIE!

Laureen - I can see Prowler. Hope you can now.