Silly question but how many claws?

**catslave** · 22nd June 2011, 11:23 PM

Really silly question I know but how many claws should a coonie have on front paws including dew claw? And can this be different from other breeds?

I only ask as I've got a friend and her moggy staying to socialize Buddy (and for company due to Sundays events on the road) and her Thug has 4 claws plus dew claw and Buddy has 5 plus dew claw

**cooncatbob** · 22nd June 2011, 11:31 PM

Sounds like Buddy's a polydactyl kitty, Maine Coon breeders try to weed this out of the blood lines but it still occurs.
Buddy's extra special, some people believe it give the cat better dexterity and ability for get into even more mischief then ordinary cats.

Polydactyl cat - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**catslave** · 22nd June 2011, 11:52 PM

Thank you, that link is very informative. But. .. Buddy has 22 claws and that link says should have 18! Do I subtract 4 for dew claws? Or does this explain his rather large paws? I love him no matter what but this is turning into a family argument as Thug is my beloved Fudge's son x

**cooncatbob** · 23rd June 2011, 12:21 AM

Normal cats have 18, polydactyl kitties have more, some have a lot more.
If you goggle "Polydactyl cats" you'll get a lot of sites, Ernest Hemingway had them and the museum of his former home still has a colony of cats half of which have extra toes.
Hemingway Cats - Amazing Cats with Many Toes

**catslave** · 23rd June 2011, 12:35 AM

Right, so Buddy has 6 claws on front and 5 on back so he is special. I would never have thought to count claws before but will when getting m kitten. I've learnt a lot x

**cooncatbob** · 23rd June 2011, 12:38 AM

Now when Buddy starts opening doors and getting into places normal cat's can't you'll know why

**cooncatbob** · 23rd June 2011, 03:52 AM

Originally Posted by NCarver

Not all MC breeders do--some specifically try to breed for it. My recollection is that the trait was not that rare in original Maine MCs. I think if you google "maine coon polydactyl" (without the quotes around your search) you will find lots of links to MC-specific info, including breeders.

You are correct they're are breeder that specifically try to bred polydactlys , but in CFA and TICA shows it's cause for disqualification.
Seems to be common with orange tabbies, we had a big friendly neighborhood cat we called Ole Six Toes.

**candes** · 23rd June 2011, 07:07 AM

Originally Posted by elismom

I'm sure that my last cat was part Maine Coon as he shared so many characteristics of the breed, hence I bought a purebred this time around. He was a polydactyl, 8 claws on the right front paw and 9 on the left including the dew claw. It is a trait that many breeders have sought to eradicate since it is undesireable in the show ring but there are breeders that are trying to resurrect it. My old boy could use his like a catcher's mitt. You could pitch things to him and he'd reach up and snatch them out of the air. He'd snag bugs right out of the air. It was totally enthralling and endearing!

Actually my dear, that is a MC thing. Even with the usual number of claws my Teddy amazes me. The most unusual thing he did was pick a pen up off the floor with one paw. And then held it with that one paw! Toy play is no fun (for me) since he gets everything with one big swat and slams it to the floor. THUD..... I can barely imagine what a poly MC could do though.

**candes** · 23rd June 2011, 07:47 AM

Originally Posted by elismom

Yes but doesn't he look at you sometimes like he's imploring you for an opposable thumb? Eli does when he just cannot achieve something that requires such and it makes me feel like we people stole something from him...

They manage quite well without opposable thumbs. It amazed me to see Teddy cupping his hand to hold a pen. Just like he had a thumb. In fact he does it with his toys too. So it is not a one time event. Have you ever seen any other animal hold such an item with one paw? And also, those MC love to carry stuff in their mouths. And they seem to always do it with purpose. Very intelligent.

**claudel** · 23rd June 2011, 01:27 PM

Originally Posted by elismom

Yes but doesn't he look at you sometimes like he's imploring you for an opposable thumb? Eli does when he just cannot achieve something that requires such and it makes me feel like we people stole something from him...

Originally Posted by candes

They manage quite well without opposable thumbs. It amazed me to see Teddy cupping his hand to hold a pen. Just like he had a thumb. In fact he does it with his toys too. So it is not a one time event. Have you ever seen any other animal hold such an item with one paw? And also, those MC love to carry stuff in their mouths. And they seem to always do it with purpose. Very intelligent.

MC Elvis told me that if they had thumbs they could open the cat food cans by themselves and would have no further use for us monkeys...