22-pound polydactyl Maine Coon with paws as big as a hand

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Viewers are drooling over him and his oversized, multi-toed paws. When you compare them to the relatively dainty paws of a conventional domestic cat his great snow shoes look enormous. 

You may know three things about polydactylism in Maine Coons:
  1. Back in the day when European settlers brought ships' cats over to Maine, they favoured polydactyl cats as they believed they could keep their balance better on deck! Or something like that. Perhaps that's a myth but it is an often stated one. It is why:
  2. It is believed that around 40% of early Maine Coons on the east coast of the US were polydactyl but:
  3. The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA), America's premier cat association does not like polydactylism. As a consequence, Maine Coon show cats can't be polydactyl. If they are they are disqualified. This must have led to breeders selectively breeding the inherited condition out of the breed. There is a lower percentage today.
22 pound polydactyl Maine Coon with paws as big as a hand
22-pound polydactyl Maine Coon with paws as big as a hand. Screenshot.

His name is Milo. A popular name.

Here is the video:


Milo lives with two other Maine Coons in the US (believed) and his owner has a TikTok account where they show off their cats. This video is one of the more popular ones and you can see why.

If you are thinking of adopting a Maine Coon and would like a polydactyl individual you might select a breeder affiliated with The International Cat Association (TICA) as they accept polydactyl Maine Coons.

Polydactylism is part of the Maine Coon cat history. It should be kept. It is almost always benign meaning no harm is caused to the cat. It is a 'cosmetic' anomaly.

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