Snoozicoonz Polydactyls

Help the Breed - Support Foundation Breeding

Yaheska Pretty Polly - June 2010 (64 41sw) aka Polly is our stunning Silver Classic Tabby with White Polydactly Maine Coon Queen from Diana Collings at Yaheska Maine Coons. Polly is the first of our Polycoons and comes from Foundation Lines. Polly is an F5 Foundation Queen and will make a fantastic addition to our blood lines. Polly is a very rare 'Snowshoe Polydactyl' as opposed to a 'Mitten Foot' and has full 4 x4 wheel drive meaning she has an extra toe on all four paws which she uses to great effect when doing 0 - 60. She also has the deepest stunning amber eyes as well. Our very grateful thanks go to Diana for allowing us to have this beautiful girl who carries the Lykkens breeding lines

Polydactyls or Polycoons, what are they? They are quite simply a natural evolutionary part of the Maine Coon breed and have been recorded as such for several hundred years now. Polydactyl simply means 'extra toe/s'. Polycoons or 'Snowshoes' were so endearing to the original Maine Coon Breed Fanciers Association that they even had their own 'Standard of Points' Hornridge, M. (2002) That Yankee Cat. 3rd Ed. Official records from America once showed that over 40 % of all wild Maine Coon 'Shags or Snugheads' as they are known in the wild were Polydactyl. At present due to politics and resentment, there is only an estimated 2 % of all Domestic Breeding Maine Coons in captivity which are Polydactyl. However increased efforts by knowledgeable breeders around the world has helped to save the Polycoon from virtual extinction within domesticity. However the number of Polydactyl Maine Coons being born, registered and bred from throughout the world is on the rise. It is firmly believed by annual registrations that within 5 years this could be as high as 8 %.

Contrary to popular belief, a straight toed Maine Coon born from a Polydactyl Parent, does not have the gene and cannot pass it on through breeding. Only a Polycoon can breed Polycoons.

The GCCF now allow all Polycoons to be registered with themselves on the Reference Register and have even allowed them to be shown in the pet sections. A veritable and supportive move forward for these beautiful cats.

TICA has now granted them Championship Status (New Traits !!!) and it is hoped that at some point the GCCF will allow them Open Championship Status, but politics is a wonderful thing.

To be continued...

Polly is to be the start of our foundation line breeding programme starting spring 2012 and will hopefully be joined by another foundation line Snowshoe polydactyl during the summer. Polly will only be mated to our old lines males in a carefully planned breeding programme.

Starting March 2012, Snoozicoonz in conjunction with Diana Collings (Yaheska Maine Coons) and hopefully the remaining Polydactyl Breeders (UK) will be starting a Polydactyl Stud Book. Our aim is to record all the Polydactyl Maine Coons Imported to and Born in the UK. Our aim is to record all births and pedigrees of Polydactyls in the UK to maintain a record of the Foundation Bloodlines and Outcrossing. Links to Diana and Polydactyl Organizations and Polydactyl Breeders will appear shortly. Eventually an online link via our individual websites will be available for new owners/breeders.

www.yaheska.com Maine Coon Polydactyl Breeder (Cornwall - England)

www.sleepyhollowcats.co.uk Maine Coon Polydactyl Breeder (Mansfield - Nottinghamshire)

www.polytrak.net Maine Coon Polydactyl Organization

www.mcpi.org Maine Coon Polydactyl Organization

www.pawpeds.com/pawacademy/general/info Maine Coon Polydactyl Information

www.homepages.ihug.co.nz/~grins/polydactyls Maine Coon Polydactyl Information