Polydactyls accepted for showing in New Zealand YAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Copy of the post sent to the TICA list, January 6, 2009

I am proud to tell you all that the New Zealand Cat Fancy has accepted polydactyly in the Maine Coon breed and 2009 will see the polys on the show bench, taking their rightful place (in my opinion of course LOL) alongside their straight footed brothers and sisters.

New Zealand has long been a country that embraces fairness and equality. We are made up of people who are not afraid to do something different to the rest of the world if we think it is right. NZ was the first country in the world to allow votes for women and I hope that, as with equality for women, the rest of the world will slowly follow our lead and treat polys equally.

I hope you will all see over time that nothing has changed, some people will continue breeding polys because they like them and others won't because they don't.....just as it is now. The cats will look the same, the breed won't deteriorate because a previously ignored section of it is ignored no longer...just maybe the breed will improve as the disenfranchised poly breeders come back into the fold and improve the quality of their cats because of the showing exposure. My big wish for the New Year is that other registries including TICA will follow suit.

I would like to thank all the Maine Coon breeders in NZ who did not allow prejudice to overcome their sense of fairness, and who voted three times over the years to accept polydactyly. In particular I'd like to thank my friend Zena for her unswerving support of the poly cause.

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

Recognition

At the Annual Board meeting of TICA in Arlington Texas, August 2008, the following addition to standing rule 216.12.2 was accepted: Polydactyls, in any breed authorized by a Board approved standard, shall be limited to no more than 7 toes on any foot.

The cats founding the Maine Coon breed included polydactyls and were originally considered for the Maine Coon breed standard. When applying for Championship Status the polydactyl trait was dropped due to aesthetics only, but was and is still registered and accepted for breeding. TICA recognizes Polydactyl as a valid trait. The Maine Coon polydactyl should be judged and conform to the Maine Coon breed standard and compete against their same color counterparts. No points given or any taken away concerning digits. Just following the Maine Coon standard stating Feet: large, rounded and well tufted, and with the addition, polydactyl allowed.

Maine Coon polydactyls are Maine Coons, regardless of digits, and our intent is to have them recognized for Championship status as Maine Coons in the show ring. Let us finally show this great cat the recognition and support it really deserves!

To find out more go to: www.polytrak.net or join us at http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/polystandard

Moon in Nieuwegein, November 16, 2008

Felikat show (Fife)

Kitten class: 3 - 6 months (5 months old)
Judge: Charles Spijker (NL)
Result: Ex 1 + BIV (adult female and male)

Moon in Heinenoord, November 2, 2008

Cats and Tulips show (TICA)
Kitten class: 4 - 8 months (4.5 months old)
Judges: Kurt Vlach (AU), Laura Schiff, Marylou Anderson, Jay Bangle (USA), Brigitte Berthelon (FR)
Result: 5 x BOC, 5 x BOD, 2 x 3rd. (total 5 rings)

TLC Polycoon's Alma P (aka Polly)

Pedigree

4 months old

TLC Polycoon's Davy P Crockett (aka Buddha)

Pedigree

2 years old


7 months old


4 months old

TLC Polycoon's Daniel P Boon (aka Dondi)

Pedigree

2 years old

9 months old


4 months old