Those catcher's mitts on your cat not only attract attention but make him a rather endearing fellow in many circles. Those many-toed felines who sport the extra digits are called polydactyls (polys). Now usually this means the cat has one or two extra toes on each front paw as opposed to the normal 18 digits (4 on rear paws and 5 on the front). That being said, you will also find polys with up to 8 and sometimes ten extra toes.
Most often the front and rear feet have the same number of extra toes – but not always. This appears to vary from cat to cat. It seems a poly will usually only have this distinctive trait on the front feet. But, as with anything else in the world of genetics, the general rules don't always apply and some polys are poly front and back feet. Some can even have just poly back feet.
Polycactyly seems to be more common in the foundation lines of the Maine Coon cat (one of the oldest breeds in North America) as the more modern purebreds are rarely polydactyls. The story goes that most polys were culled out of the breed years ago. That hasn't stopped some breeders from still working with them – thank heavens!
It seems that over time most cat associations have automatically disqualified polys from competition in the purebred classes. There was quite the uproar about that and finally the AFCA, and other cat registries (CFA, TICA, CFF, MCBFA) added a "Household Pet" class that allows the poly trait. By the way the gene for polydactylism is considered to be dominant. That means you can't have a poly kitten born unless one of its parents is also a poly. So if you do the math here, that would mean a kitten with a poly parent has about a 40 to 50 percent change of inheriting those delightful paws. Usually but not exclusively it’s the forefeet that show the poly trait, including extra dewclaws.
Where does the term polydactyly come from? Its actual origin is Greek, with poly meaning many and the daktulos meaning fingers, and you will find a higher population of these charmers in New England. Without getting into the full story, it seems this trait may have come from cats brought from England by ship to the Boston area. Interesting note: you won't find many polys in Europe as they just about became extinct during medieval times. They were regarded as witches familiars.
Pssssst! Did you know the White House once had a resident poly? He belonged to President Theodore Roosevelt. We hear tell Slippers had a lovely pampered life. And of course the most famous of all poly cat owners was Ernest Hemingway. He came into possession of his much beloved Maine Coon cat as a gift from a drinking buddy. To this day there are about 70 descendents or more wandering around the Hemingway estate in Key West. You can get to visit with them since the estate is open to the public.
Being a polydactyl is not life threatening for cats that have this trait. About the only time they have a bit of difficulty is when they are wet behind the ears youngsters just learning to walk, climb and play. It's well worth the entertainment to watch them grow up and find their feet. In later life polys can actually be very nimble in the dexterity department and have been known to single mittedly catch things thrown to them. If that isn't hilarious enough, watch your Maine Coon cat learn how to open cupboard doors and unhook latches. It's amazing!
By: adammck
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
If you have enjoyed this article about Polydactyl and Maine Coon Cats then please feel free to reprint it as it is. This resource box must be included with the article. Please visit my blog at www.world-of-maine-coon-cats.blogspot.com for lots more free articles and information.
How To Go About Choosing A Cat Breed That Suits You
Domestic cats make great pets for most homes because they are very easy to care for and generally bond easily with humans. Most of the societies and cultures around the world have made it a practice to adopt cats into their family structures. However, domestic cats do vary quite a bit in their physical design and personalities from one breed to the next. Choosing a cat breed that suits you and your family is not a task that should be taken lightly. Nor should choosing a cat breed that suits you seem like a difficult task.
The first consideration when choosing a cat breed is the size of your living area. You may always think of cats as being leisurely lounge lizards, but many breeds spend as much time playing as lounging. Playful cat breeds need plenty of room to play. Also, the larger the play area and the more there is to do, such as another cat to interact with, the less likely the cat is to go mad if it doesn't see you much for a few days.
That leads to the second consideration when choosing a cat breed. You need to think about how much time your family is going to be able to spend with the cat. If your new little friend doesn't at least get a couple of gentle touches and a cuddle every other day, it will go mad. Although how much attention is necessary has a lot to do with the breed. The other part of the time consideration is that some cats require more grooming maintenance such as bathing and brushing. A busy family should get a cat with short fur.
The third consideration when choosing a cat breed is allergies to cats. These allergies are not uncommon, but there is much variance in the degree in which they manifest themselves. Someone with a very heavy cat allergy probably should not own a cat. Someone with a light allergy that results in a few sneezes or coughs a day can have a cat, but should be careful in choosing a cat breed that will minimize allergen exposure. For example, you will want to choose a cat breed that has short fur and rarely sheds its fur to reduce your exposure.
The fourth, and probably most often forgotten, consideration when choosing a cat breed is the cost of taking care of that breed. Some breeds are hardier than others. Many breeds have common ailments, such as deafness or fur balls, that may get costly in veterinarian visits. Also, a cat that weighs half as much and has a lazy temperament will eat less than half as much as the cat that weighs twice as much and is packed full of energy.
The fifth, and final, consideration when choosing a cat breed is how the personality of the kitty matches up with the other personalities of your family. Cats come in different temperaments. There are lap, child-friendly, indoors, independent hunter, and jealous, one-person cats.
By: Birgit Hulsing
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Amazing technics to train your cat and lots of secret information on how to make your cat experience a huge success. Brigit Hulsing is a cat behaviour researcher and helps cat owners with practical tips and advice on cat toilet training and cat training
The first consideration when choosing a cat breed is the size of your living area. You may always think of cats as being leisurely lounge lizards, but many breeds spend as much time playing as lounging. Playful cat breeds need plenty of room to play. Also, the larger the play area and the more there is to do, such as another cat to interact with, the less likely the cat is to go mad if it doesn't see you much for a few days.
That leads to the second consideration when choosing a cat breed. You need to think about how much time your family is going to be able to spend with the cat. If your new little friend doesn't at least get a couple of gentle touches and a cuddle every other day, it will go mad. Although how much attention is necessary has a lot to do with the breed. The other part of the time consideration is that some cats require more grooming maintenance such as bathing and brushing. A busy family should get a cat with short fur.
The third consideration when choosing a cat breed is allergies to cats. These allergies are not uncommon, but there is much variance in the degree in which they manifest themselves. Someone with a very heavy cat allergy probably should not own a cat. Someone with a light allergy that results in a few sneezes or coughs a day can have a cat, but should be careful in choosing a cat breed that will minimize allergen exposure. For example, you will want to choose a cat breed that has short fur and rarely sheds its fur to reduce your exposure.
The fourth, and probably most often forgotten, consideration when choosing a cat breed is the cost of taking care of that breed. Some breeds are hardier than others. Many breeds have common ailments, such as deafness or fur balls, that may get costly in veterinarian visits. Also, a cat that weighs half as much and has a lazy temperament will eat less than half as much as the cat that weighs twice as much and is packed full of energy.
The fifth, and final, consideration when choosing a cat breed is how the personality of the kitty matches up with the other personalities of your family. Cats come in different temperaments. There are lap, child-friendly, indoors, independent hunter, and jealous, one-person cats.
By: Birgit Hulsing
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Amazing technics to train your cat and lots of secret information on how to make your cat experience a huge success. Brigit Hulsing is a cat behaviour researcher and helps cat owners with practical tips and advice on cat toilet training and cat training
Cat Bed Information And Cat And Kitten Habitat Information
Ecology is the science of relationships between organisms and their environments. When looking for cats, people have to consider a variety of aspects, such as the natural habitat or the environment. To make sure the environment at home is the safest for cats, owners have to make available certain things such as first aid kit for cats and play items for their recreational purpose.
Several people assume that since domestic and wild cats get enough water and food, cats may survive in cold climate because of their thick coats. Although, studies say that in harsh climate, shelter is preferred the most over any other needs. Without shelter, wild and domestic cats develop risk of possible dangers such as frozen paws and ears. Severe climate may harm their respiratory system too. Particularly, in the rains, fur of cats get wet and may cost them their lives.
Types of Shelter:
Styrofoam Cooler Shelter:
A general Styrofoam cooler may provide shelter to cats. This type of shelter is available at grocery stores and in departmental stores as well. It is also available at restaurants that obtain shipments of meat and fish filled in Styrofoam containers.
Plastic Bin Shelter:
Such type of shelter needs two plastic bins of Rubber made type, and they need to have lids of which one has to be big enough so that the lid and smaller bin fit inside it properly. Other than this, some straw for bedding along with a Styrofoam insulation of 4 by 8 foot is required.
Temporary shelter:
An abandoned or homeless cat may survive in a shelter made of commonly available items. A strong container or a heavyweight-shipping crate built with plastic and having resistance to bad climate is the ideal one.
Insulation and Bedding:
There are other ways for providing shelter to domestic cats. An insulating stuff inside the shelter house of cats gives their body the required heat and warmth. It is better to use straw for this purpose. Owners may avoid using towels, blankets or newspapers that suck the body heat of cats. In addition, owners need to change the insulating material for keeping it dry.
In cold climate, cat owners may use a Mylar blanket to line the floor or the interior walls of the shelter. Mylar imitates the body heat of cats. Mylar blankets are available at cheap prices. One more type of blanket that is available in pet stores is the Flexi-Mat Purr Pad.
Other Options to Buy Shelters:
Cat owners who have no time, skill or liking to build shelter for their cats, there is an alternative. Recently, pet stores offer cat shelters insulated with wood of superior quality. Cat owners willing to buy it may go through the web site of the store, for checking the price list or visit the nearest store.
Cats - Adaptability
Cats accommodate themselves in many places. May be an apartment, a mansion, camper or a houseboat, they get used to the environment easily. However, basic shelter requirements of cats include a litter box and provision of warmth. Owners can make available all the necessary items for cats, indoors.
By: Martin Marks
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Go to Cat and Kitten Zone to get your free ebook about Cats and Kittens at Cats. Cat and Kitten Zone also has information on Kittens, Cat Supplies and a Cat and Kitten Forum where you can connect with others who love cats and kittens.
Several people assume that since domestic and wild cats get enough water and food, cats may survive in cold climate because of their thick coats. Although, studies say that in harsh climate, shelter is preferred the most over any other needs. Without shelter, wild and domestic cats develop risk of possible dangers such as frozen paws and ears. Severe climate may harm their respiratory system too. Particularly, in the rains, fur of cats get wet and may cost them their lives.
Types of Shelter:
Styrofoam Cooler Shelter:
A general Styrofoam cooler may provide shelter to cats. This type of shelter is available at grocery stores and in departmental stores as well. It is also available at restaurants that obtain shipments of meat and fish filled in Styrofoam containers.
Plastic Bin Shelter:
Such type of shelter needs two plastic bins of Rubber made type, and they need to have lids of which one has to be big enough so that the lid and smaller bin fit inside it properly. Other than this, some straw for bedding along with a Styrofoam insulation of 4 by 8 foot is required.
Temporary shelter:
An abandoned or homeless cat may survive in a shelter made of commonly available items. A strong container or a heavyweight-shipping crate built with plastic and having resistance to bad climate is the ideal one.
Insulation and Bedding:
There are other ways for providing shelter to domestic cats. An insulating stuff inside the shelter house of cats gives their body the required heat and warmth. It is better to use straw for this purpose. Owners may avoid using towels, blankets or newspapers that suck the body heat of cats. In addition, owners need to change the insulating material for keeping it dry.
In cold climate, cat owners may use a Mylar blanket to line the floor or the interior walls of the shelter. Mylar imitates the body heat of cats. Mylar blankets are available at cheap prices. One more type of blanket that is available in pet stores is the Flexi-Mat Purr Pad.
Other Options to Buy Shelters:
Cat owners who have no time, skill or liking to build shelter for their cats, there is an alternative. Recently, pet stores offer cat shelters insulated with wood of superior quality. Cat owners willing to buy it may go through the web site of the store, for checking the price list or visit the nearest store.
Cats - Adaptability
Cats accommodate themselves in many places. May be an apartment, a mansion, camper or a houseboat, they get used to the environment easily. However, basic shelter requirements of cats include a litter box and provision of warmth. Owners can make available all the necessary items for cats, indoors.
By: Martin Marks
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Go to Cat and Kitten Zone to get your free ebook about Cats and Kittens at Cats. Cat and Kitten Zone also has information on Kittens, Cat Supplies and a Cat and Kitten Forum where you can connect with others who love cats and kittens.