Body By Poly

A version of this article was published in Maine Attraction magazine, December 2003 davesworld@mweb.co.za

It should be noted that Furkats Winifred goes back to both the Tarbox line and the Dirigo line.  

Why not use a Polydactyl in Your Breeding Program?

Give your top show cats that added body density by putting a polydactyl Maine Coon in your lines.

Above GP RW Furkats Winifred

Historically Polydactyl Maine Coons have been a significant part of this breed.  According to some sources the poly represented 40 percent of the original Maine Coon population.  These cats are the sturdy and rugged examples of the breed. They were treasured for their hunting ability and helped to define the breed as a working breed.  The polydactyl cat will have extra toes on their front feet and sometimes on their back feet.  For each toe there are supporting muscles, tendons and ligaments that cause the legs and chest to be larger than in the smaller footed cat.  When the cat is lifted this extra body density is immediately evident in the polydactyl. 

The gene for polydactyl is a dominant gene, which dominates about 50% of the time.  Dominant genes are stronger than recessive genes.  We are fortunate that we are breeding for a solid rugged cat that could survive in harsh climates.  This is in contrast to some breeds that select for delicate bone structure or petite animals.  We want to enhance body density so that the cat has the appearance of strength and power. The trait of polydactyl seems to be similar to the other traits in that there is a cumulative affect over generation.  For example when breeding for the color silver, it takes many generations to develop a good silver color.  When breeding for body density it can take many generations to cultivate the trait.  When the decedents of polydactyls are used in a breeding program in combination with top show cats it will produce even more competitive off spring. 

GP, RW Furkats Winifred is now 2 years old.  She has been competing in CFA shows in the Premiership (alter) class and has been very competitive even against the larger males.  So competitive that she achieved a Midwest Regional Award for the 2004/2005 CFA show season as 11th Best Cat in the Midwest in addition to being the 11th Best Maine Coon in the nation.  She was the highest scoring female Maine Coon in Premiership for that show year.  The comments of many of the judges are that "you should feel this girl's body".   Other comments have been as follows:

"This beautiful girl is an example to all Maine Coon breeders that quality should never be sacrificed for size.  She is in perfect balance, perfect ear set, nice squared muzzle and her body density is amazing!"

"You should feel the chest on this beautiful girl, her body density is fantastic. Perfect in balance, lovely squared muzzle with nice high cheek bones, ears set high on head and a beautiful flowing coat"

"I love this beautiful female Maine Coon.  As you can see from all the wonderful Maine Coons here, there are different looks to them.  But this girl represents the one that I prefer and believe to be according to standard.  Lovely silky coat, beautiful high cheek bones, square muzzle, ear set high on the head and this girl’s body is fantastic."

"I love the shag to this girls coat, she's groomed to perfection and you should feel her body, it's rock solid"

Below is a pedigree of GP Furkats Winifred. In the pedigree there are 2 different lines of polydactyl in the background.  Wini’s grandfather is Furkats Love P Joy who is a blue classic tabby polydactyl.  There are also polydactyl cats behind Furkats Kramer, who is Wini’s father.  Since the gene for polydactyl is dominant, the kitten must show the trait to pass it on.  It is possible to get a non-polydactyl kitten from a polydactyl.   Having a few polydactyl cats in the pedigree will add boning and muscle density. This extra density will also be noticed in the nonpoly littermates and other descendents of polydactyl cats.

Pedigree of:  GP RW Furkats Winifred
Date of Birth: 4/20/20003
Color & Markings: Blue Eyed White

 
Pedigree of: Furkats Walter 1700-1446941 White 
Date of Birth: 4/20/2003
Colour & Markings: White
Owner: Janet Marr

+-- Furkats Brancusi Bird In Space SBT 090596 006 Black/Wh Bicolor
+-- Furkats W P Churchill SBT 050298 030 Blue/wh Bicolor
| +-- Dirigo Buffi of Mainemade SBT 061095 001 Br McTb
+-- Furkats Love P Joy SBT 021100 045 Blue Tb
| | +-- Furkats Woolie Bullie SBT051795 019 Red McTb/Wh
| +--CH Furkats Blueberry Cheesecake SBT 042307 034 Blue Ptch Tb/Wh
| +--CH Furkats Gertrude 1793-1067353 Br Tb-Wh
+-- Furkats Kramer 1700-1439803 White
| | +-- Arkatz Perfect Tommy of Blueblaze 1736-886861 Silver Tb
| | +--GC Blueblaze Zaphod Beeblebrox 1736-886861 Silver Tb
| | | +-- L'Enchantacat Tasha Yar of BlueBlaze 1733-640426 Silver Tb
| +-- Furkats Dreamer SBT 040300 049 Blue Eyed White
| | +-- Phoenix Frost Fire SBT 010796 015 White
| +-- The Dorsai I Scream Vanilla 0043-1234333 Odd-Eyed White
| +-- Dorsai Altair SBT 111896 009 Silver McTb
+-- Furkats Walter 1700-1446941 White
| +-- Incognito of Mainiac SBT081892 012 Green Eyed White
| +-- Mainiac's Zinfandel of Shaggytown SBT 061397 052 Silver McTb
| | +-- Tayaway's Madeline of Mainiac SBT 100494 028 Br Torbie/Wh
| +-- Shaggytown Franklin 1736M-1351487 Silver McTb
| | | +-- Coonshine's Paden of Sacandaga SBT 051188 019 Br McTb
| | +-- Sacandaga's Pokomoke of Shaggytown SBT 110793 010 Br Torbie/Wh
| | +-- Scandaga Minnehaha SBT 110793 010 Red Tb/Wh
+-- Furkats Tartan 1785-1355333 Silver Ptch Tb
| +-- Beiryhil Ben Hur MCC901160-S91-19612-1/1792-7 Br Tb/Wh
| +-- Beiryhil Wolfman Jack of Swanycoon 9736-1156598 Silver McTb/Wh
| | +-- Beiryhil Cinnamon Silver 9785-1146270 Silver Mactorbie/Wh
+-- Swanycoon Molly Mcoon of Furkats 9785-1262874 Silver Ptch Mac Tby-Wh
| +-- Angtini Calvin John of Swanycoon 1792-884072 Red Tb/Wh
+-- Swanycoon Jezabelle 1759-1054107 Siler Torbie/Wh
+-- Swanycoon Judith Joys Spirit 1759-912765 Siler Torbie/Wh