Animals of different feline breeds can be polydacts, which means such an anomaly as a six-fist. It is clearly visible externally - due to the presence of an extra finger, cats' paws are wider and more agile. And this does not prevent them, but rather helps to lead a full-fledged lifestyle, providing many benefits.
Advantages and disadvantages
Polydact, in relation to people and animals, means "many-toed". This is a feature that is transmitted at the genetic level. In humans, such a hereditary defect occurs, but it is usually one extra finger, and mostly a little finger. In polydactyl cats there is a preaxial form of pathology - extra thumb, although in fact there may be two. There are such fingers on the side, but can be located on the same level with the other, main ones.
In the latter case, the anatomical feature is called post-axial However, both options are considered normal.
The extra fingers are found on the forelimbs, but sometimes they are also observed on the back. Extremely rarely such a defect is noted only on the hind paws of the animal.
Certain advantages of having another body part are:
- excellent sense of balance;
- stronger grip and ability to cling better, unlike five-fingered cats;
- increased swimming and moving skills in the snow;
- easy step on which it is impossible to hear the approach of the animal.
The fantastic tenacity of six-toed cats strikes the imagination: with its wide legs, they can easily open cabinets and doors, deftly turning the handle. Such an animal is a real find for a professional trainer, especially since most individuals are characterized by good acumen, and are easy to learn. Not to mention the fact that all these qualities make animals excellent hunters.
But, along with such advantages, there are also disadvantages. Often excellent anatomy entails:
- joint disease;
- ingrown claws in the tissue of the paws;
- limb deformity.
The presence of extra phalanges is a cause of predisposition to injury, and spliced fingers with the growth of claws can cause pain. In addition, the anomaly is often accompanied by infectious lesions of the nail base, dysbacteriosis of the horny plate, the unevenness of its growth. In this case, the animal needs medical attention. Sometimes the best option to solve the problem is surgical removal.
Fortunately, some pathologies can be cured, but the most unpleasant consequence of polydactyly is the birth of weak, unviable babies with health problems, especially in cats with a three-phalanx thumb.
Sick kittens have a congenital deformity of the forearms, therefore, to exclude the appearance of the next generation with obvious developmental defects, animals have to be sterilized.
Natural origin
At different times, polydactyl animals were treated differently: as witnesses' accomplices or as a talisman that brings luck. Today, the phenomenon of six paws has been studied, and pedigree animals born with one or several additional fingers are recorded in special phelinological systems, at least in America.
In nature, there are many holes most common in Maine Coons - large individuals, whose natural habitat forced them to adapt to the harsh living conditions: to move swiftly and easily on ice and a thick layer of snow in order to catch prey.
In accordance with the studies of the genetics of this breed, it turned out that the six-feline representatives of the feline are the result of the natural evolution of American cats.
The largest population of individuals with this mutation is marked in the city of Boston. Such animals were kept on ships to get rid of rodents, and thus they became popular in different parts of the world. According to statistics, poly-stocks are most often found in port cities.
Until some time, polydactyly was considered a marriage, therefore even animals with a pedigree did not participate in breeding and show shows. But now with the Maine Coon, this feature is the standard and six-fingered cats take part in championships arranged for the wide-legged representatives of the breed.
Selection features
Breeding of six-toed individuals differs in particular specificity, which is due to the unpredictability of the genetics of cats. And still managed to figure out how to display the offspring of Maine Coon with polydactyly:
- to get kittens with paw anomaly, only one parent with polydactyly is needed, and then the success of mating will be 56%;
- two multi-fingered parents increase the chances of having a polydact by another 20%;
- if at least one parent has a homozygote — homologous chromosomes that do not produce splitting in the next generations, then all offspring may have a so-called anomaly.
By the way, the number of multi-fingered feline squad individuals is not limited to the Maine Coon. At the moment, experts are engaged in the selection of such animals, and there is even an artificially bred breed - pixie bob.
Buying a polydactyl kitten, the owner should not worry that he will need special care. Animals differ in their needs, which are identical to the needs of ordinary, five-fingered cats. On the other hand, the preferential qualities of the policact will certainly interest the host, besides, these animals have a lively mind, a good memory and are easy to train.
Characteristics of pets Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway, a famous writer and military journalist, has not bypassed his love of unusual six-toed animals. It all started with a pet named F. Kiss, who tenderly guarded Ham's firstborn in the absence of the owners. Later on the island of Key West, next to Florida, the writer received a white kitten from a familiar captain with six fingers on his paws.
At that time, the sailors believed that a six-fingered cat brings good luck, protects the ship from storms, and also destroys rats.
Snow, as the cat was named by Ham and his wife, became the ancestor of all multi-fingered cats, and now 50 of his descendants still live in the dwelling of the writer who became the house-museum.
In the Hemingway feline paradise, animals of various sizes and colors were collected on a small island, and each of them had its own character, but all of them were cared for and awarded bright names in honor of world-famous singers, actors and politicians. Thanks to Snezhka, half of the offspring from them was born six-fingered, and now there are animals in the house that have two, and even three extra fingers. This is a reliable fact, so there is no need to doubt that a variety of breeds of cats are subject to rare mutations.
In general, polydactyly is not welcome by both veterinarians and breeders., but many-fingered pets have become so popular and in demand that they are still bred for sale. Many experts speak directly about the inhumane attitude towards mutating cats, since complications on the background of congenital defects often lead to the suffering of animals, but this is only one opinion among many other judgments.
For Hemingway six-fingered cats, see below.
