Most Americans are not aware that the Polydactyl Maine Coon made up a significant number of the original Maine Coons. The standard front paw has 4 toes and one dewclaw and the back paw has 4 toes. A polydactyl will usually have one or two extra toes on each foot. This may be an extra toe or an extra or double dewclaw. In the October, 1968 issue of the Journal Veterinary Medicine/Small Clinician, R. F. Sis, D.V. M., M. S., Ph.D. and R. Getty, D.V.M., M.S., Ph.D. published an article called "Polydactylism in Cats". They reported that the cat normally has 18 digits, 4 on each hind foot and 5 on each front foot, however, polydactyl or hyperdactyl cats are not uncommon. Such cats sometimes have as many as 8 or even 10 digits on each paw. There is considerable range in the number and size of these extra digits and the structures related to them. Descriptions of feet from individual polydactyl cats were published as early as 1868. If the parent has an extra toe the kittens may have an extra toe and if the parent has a double dewclaw the kittens may have that trait. When the kitten is a poly, it seems to have the same toe configuration as the poly parent.
The gene is a dominant gene that only seems to express itself from 40% to 50% of the time. However the non poly kittens of a poly parent seen to have heavier boning than kittens of a non-poly mating. The increased boning is more noticeable in the front legs and chest. Some breeders report that the extra toe causes greater width than the double dewclaw. According to Dr. Montgomery, Auburn College of Veterinary Medicine, historically many owners are not even aware their cat has polydactylism. He also stated that owners of polydactyls have not seen adverse affects. Polydactylism is a fairly common anomaly in cats that is not detrimental to their orthopedic soundness.
A literature search done at Auburn College of Veterinary Medicine showed that there has not been much research done on this topic. The medical view of polydactylia is that the presence of extra digits on one or more feet is not uncommon (Danforth, 1947; Chapman & Zeiner, 1961; Sis & Getty, 1968). Sis and Getty (1968) further reported that the trait is not related to sex. The forefeet are most often affected and usually five toes are present in addition to the dewclaws. The condition is inherited as an autosomal single dominant trait, the probable effect of which is to incite some change in the pre-axial (i.e. medial) part of the limb causing as excess of growth in that area (Sis & Getty, 1968). They also reported that in cats observed at the Iowa State University Small Animal Clinic, the anomaly had been limited to the medial side of the limb. In addition to the extra digits, each with its own terminal pad, there is one extra palmar pad and usually at least one extra plantar pad. According to the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Cat Watch, (1998) cats that have supernumerary toes have the dominant gene, Pd. This means that a cat needs to have only one copy of this gene from either parent to have the trait. The gene specifically affects the tissue formed at the very end of the limb, where the toe will form in the developing embryo. The tissue at the end of the limb is called the apical cap. Sometimes the limb cells will stimulate the cap cells, causing the cap to be larger than would normally be expected. These feline embryos will develop extra toes.
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