Maine Coons are incredible cats. They start out as teeny-tiny kittens and blossom into these giant, lovable little beasts! There’s truly nothing better – except, apparently, a “rare” one.
On Friday, January 13th, one woman shared a video of her rare Maine Coon, and it’s everything we could ever want:
@sweetgiantmaincoonsWe always wanted a polydactyl black smoke Maine Coon kitten, but we were not able to find one until our Maine Coon queen, Fiona, had one. The search is over; she stays with us.#MaineCoonMagic #mainecoonlovers #catlife #virall #catstiktok #kitten #catstiktok #kitten #mainecooncat #catslapping #mainecoonkitten #polydactylcat
This kitten from @sweetgiantmaincoons is unfortunately not for sale – the owners of the cattery said in the caption that she’s staying with them. I’m jealous!
Related: Maine Coon Cat ‘Making Biscuits’ with His Big Paws Has Everyone In Awe
According to the owners of this Maine Coon cattery, they’d been on the hunt for a polydactyl Maine Coon for a long time, but they’ve never been able to find one. At least, not until one of their own had one. That’s the very definition of, “if I want something done, I have to do it myself!”
The kitten in this video doesn’t have a name yet, and she’s not for sale, so we’ll get to watch her growth journey in real-time on social media. I must say, I’m not mad about that!
What are polydactyl kittens?
Polydactyly is a condition that causes something to be born with more than 5 fingers or toes. Typically, it only occurs on one foot: with this kitten, it looks like its front right paw is the affected one. In some cases, it can occur on two or all limbs, but that’s even rarer than just having one.
There’s no concrete evidence to suggest a direct cause for polydactyly. Most research states that the condition is usually genetic: someone with two polydactyl parents will typically be polydactyl themself. Someone with one polydactyl parent has a 50% chance of inheriting the condition. Punnett squares are awesome!
However, when it’s not hereditary, it seems to happen at random and not as a result of environmental factors. It’s a genetic mutation, so most likely, that recessive gene is somewhere in the polydactyl’s lineage, even if you weren’t aware. There are no links between polydactyly and inbreeding or unethical breeding practices.
Polydactyl kittens lead normal lives
Any abnormalities with our pets can be concerning, especially for new parents who aren’t looking for it. If you find yourself adopting a polydactyl kitten, you can rest easy knowing that most of them will live well into adulthood. Most of the time, it’s just an extra finger or toe and has no serious ramifications. It won’t impede their ability to run, walk, eat, or play. In fact, the reality is that they just have an extra claw to scratch you with!
The severity of the condition can vary: some only have a tiny extra nub, while others are born with an entire extra digit that has a full nail and all. The larger it is, the more difficulty the polydactyl will have when walking. That’s especially true if they’re wearing shoes, but cats like the one in this video typically don’t have that problem. If the condition is really severe, there are surgeries to correct it.
Other than an extra toe, the kitten from this Maine Coon cattery seems to be doing just fine. I’m happy she’s already got a loving home!
