The Maine Coon’s feet are quite distinctive. They are wide set and medium length. They have long paws with five toes in front and four in the back. They have multi-colored paw pads. In addition to their large paws, the Maine Coon also has well-tufted feet.
18 toes
The feet of the Maine Coon have 18 toes. This is not a deformity but a genetic anomaly. The extra toes are known as polydactylism. This trait affects about 40% of Maine Coons. This characteristic is advantageous to the cat, because it gives it a better grip on the ground, which is beneficial during snowy weather.
The disorder is called polydactyly and comes from the Greek word polydaktylos. Polydactyly is a genetic disorder that causes an animal to have multiple digits on a paw. The extra digits are usually on the little finger or thumb side.
While this unusual trait is considered to be a disadvantage by some breeders, it has been making a comeback among fanciers. This is due in part to the fact that Maine Coon breeders are accentuating polydactyl Maine Coons. It is believed that about 40 percent of the Maine Coons in the world have these extra toes.
In order to adapt to the cold Winter climates of New England, the Maine Coon cat breed evolved with extra toes. This made their paws double the size, making them much easier to walk on snow. The extra toes also made them more agile and protected them from the cold. These unique features have allowed them to survive in the wilderness for decades.
While polydactyly is becoming less prevalent among Maine coons, some fanciers still recognize these cats. While the Guinness World Record for most toes belongs to a polydactyl ginger tabby cat, the Maine Coon is still a polydactyl cat with 18 toes.
While polydactyl cats are not uncommon, they have been subject to controversy. While many people believe that polydactyl cats are less agile, others believe that their big paws help the cat walk on snow. Its big paws are also useful in hunting.
Multi-colored paw pads
Maine Coon feet are multi-colored and often look like a cat’s paw pads. Their paw pads have tufts of fur that help keep their paws warm in the winter. Because of this, their paws are called polydactyl.
Color-wise, the Maine Coon comes in a variety of colors, ranging from black to cream. Black Maine Coon cats have black nose leather and paw pads. Cream-colored cats have pink paw pads. Red Maine Coons are also available, but are rarer and have a red nose and paw pads. Blue and cream-colored Maine Coons are also common, though solid blue is hard to find and might be mistaken for grey.
The color of the paw pads varies according to the melanin levels and type of melanin found in the animal’s skin. The darkest paw pads match the fur color, while the lighter ones are pink. Melanin is the main component that determines a cat’s eye and fur color. Phaeomelanin, the pigment responsible for making fur and skin orange, reflects red to yellow light. While these colors aren’t indicative of a Maine Coon’s general coloring, they may indicate a different origin, such as an oriental breed.
The Maine Coon is a large cat that is incredibly affectionate. Its long legs and paw pads are multi-colored and make it easy to distinguish a Maine Coon by their appearance. In addition to their thick, multi-colored paw pads, these cats have a pronounced orange-red nose. The Maine Coon is also a very large cat, measuring over four inches tall.
The paw pads on Maine Coon feet are large and multi-colored, and they often match their fur color or skin tone. Some have pink or red paw pads, and others are white or gray. While multi-colored cats may have multi-colored paw pads, purebreds may have the colors matched to the rest of their body.
Origin of polydactylism in Maine Coons
Polydactylism in the feet of Maine Coon cats refers to extra toes on either the thumb or little finger side of the paw. The extra toes help the animals catch prey more easily. They were once believed to be lucky sailors because of their wider paws, which helped them balance themselves at sea. The reason why these animals have extra toes is not completely understood, but there are some theories.
Polydactylism in Maine Coon feet is believed to have been a trait present in the Maine Coon breed for a long time. This trait originates from the Greek word polydaktylos, which means many fingers or toes. These cats are often excellent hunters.
The reason for the polydactylism in the feet of Maine Coons is not completely understood. Several theories have been proposed about this trait, ranging from their utility as snowshoes to their use in the hunt. Although polydactyl cats may be more likely to damage furniture, they can also be prone to feline radial hypoplasia, an illness that affects the bones in the feet. In addition, breeding polydactyl cats can result in severe paw deformities.
Although many breeders prefer polydactyl Maine Coon feet over normal ones, the GCCF has been reluctant to accept polydactyly in their breed. In April 2009 at the World Cat Congress meeting in Arnhem, Netherlands, a GCCF delegate told a reporter that polydactyly was not accepted. The governing council of the Cat Fancy in Germany acted against polydactylism, and in 2014 they banned the breed in their national competitions.
Polydactyly in Maine coon cats is a benign genetic condition, caused by a mutation in the gene that controls the expression of the Shh gene, a gene responsible for digit formation. Cats with polydactylism may have as many as 8 extra toes or as few as six. Some may also have an enlarged standard dew claw.
According to a study by Cornell University, polydactylism is not unique to North America, and may have originated in the colonies of English Puritans. Cats that were brought to Boston from England during the 1600s may have possessed the trait as early as this, or they may have carried it on ships to other colonies.
