Early poly cats in the Maine Coon breed

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GRAY LUV PERRY

One of the early polydactyl cats seen extensively in the background of many breeding programs (poly and non poly) throughout the world was Gray Luv Perry. Through her daughter Abishai of Sundar she is found throughout the entire Maine Coon breed.

Gray Luv Perry was one of the most influential cats in the Maine Coon breed. She was a blue solid with white polydactyl according to Pawpeds. Her daughter, Abishai of Sundar born on the 19th of April, 1972 was sired by the solid black, Sam Spade Perry. Abishai was also a blue solid with white polydactyl. No photos seem to exist of Gray Luv, Sam Spade or Abishai.

Gray Love Perry and Sam Spade Perry were foundation cats brought into the breed in the late 1960's or early 1970's by Mrs Phyllis Voth of Wisconsin. Rumour has it that Mrs Voth obtained her foundation cats from the Humane Society Shelter in Madison, Wisconsin. Mrs Voth is the breeder of Abishai of Sundar and all of her offspring, under the Sundar prefix.

Phyllis Voth mentored Ginny Malloy (Charmalot cattery) who is well known throughout the world as one of the early influential breeders of Maine Coons. Ginny Malloy's first breeding cat was Abishai's grand-daughter; GRC Sundar Sarisvati of Charmalot.

In an article on the Pawpeds site, "Ginny says that her cattery is still today based on Heidi Ho Richard III of Charmalot, (who tragically died of FUS and uremic poisoning at the young age of four), together with Sarisvati and two other very important females, Charmalot Bluesette and Charmalot Lady Rebecca".

The very first Maine Coon to achieve the distinguished merit status was Abishai's daughter, CH Sundar Tiffany of Tufpaws. "Tiffany" was confirmed as a DM on January 13, 1983. She was also the dam of the two Tufpaws national winners. It was another four years before the next Maine Coon CH Heidi Ho's Coon Victoria was confirmed as a DM on January 14, 1987, and another nine years before the first male DM, GC Lovabacon's Tom Terrificat. "Terry" had his DM confirmed on September 7, 1991.

Abishai is in the pedigrees of many Maine Coon catteries. While researching, I could not find one cattery who did not have Gray Luv Perry and Abishai in their lines.

Each of the breeders of the TICA Breed Committe has Gray Luv Perry and Abishai of Sundar in their lines: Coonyham, Tanstaafl, Chemicoons, Smokeycoons, Broadsway, Juliehills, and Shononcats

Other breeders such as Calicoon, Codycats, Hibou, Nascats, Tati-Tan, Willowplace, Woodpile...the list seems endless, also have them as original foundations in their lines. In fact, so far I have been unable to find any breeder WITHOUT these cats in their cat's lineages.

By Susan Grindell MSc, BOptom

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Soozn =^.^=
Mainelymagic Maine Coons
www.mainecoon.co.nz

Sources:

Pedigrees traced through Pawpeds, Maine Coon database
http://pawpeds.com/db/?a=sf&g=4&p=mco&date=iso&o=ajgrep

Information on Ginny Malloy, Pawpeds :
http://pawpeds.com/MCO/mchs/articles/Charmalot_cs.html

Show results from the early maine coons:
http://www.cccats.com/html/the_first_show.html