The American Polydactyl Cat
Aug. 27th 2008American Polydactyl is a remarkable feline. It is made remarkable by its extra number of toes on paws.
With extra toes on their feet American Polydactyls are unique cats.
The additional toes can either be on only the front or the hind paws or
on all four paws. They are more common on front paws though and may
range anywhere between four to seven in their number. This condition is
owing to a genetic mutation and is seen more as a trait than a distinct
breed. Indeed many cat fanciers are reluctant to grant them
registration and individual status. Nevertheless many breeders continue
to develop these cats for their appearance and attributes. It is said
that they were brought to United States couple of centuries ago on
ships from Europe, with sailors treasuring them for their extraordinary
mousing skills and supposed good luck affiliation.
Polydactyly
may be seen in any cat breed and is perhaps commonest in Maine Coons.
The cats with extra toes are called mitten cats, thumb cats or at times
Hemingway cats - owing to the great love and passion that the famous
writer had for these felines. The polydactyl cats that are specifically
bred for this trait have medium sized muscular bodies. Head is broad
with wide set pointed ears and slightly slanted round eyes. They may
occur in any color as does the close-lying fur. At times the tail may
be short and resemble that of a Bobtail cat.
Though American
Polydactyls are generally healthy and perfectly normal, there are some
health concerns , with some polydactyl variants having bony anomalies
that may lead to degrees of disablement. Sometimes the cats have
difficulty in learning how to walk and move about early on though they
are able to adapt with age. The additional toes may be fused with the
remaining ones or may appear as a separate offshoot of a couple of toes.
The
added toes may be advantageous too. They enable the cat to grasp and
manoeuvre objects better and may be the reason behind the felid’s good
hunting ability. Some people report the American Polydactyls to be
gentler and possessive of a sweeter personality than normal cats.
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