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

Maine Coon polydactyl for Championship status

In September of 2009 twenty five members of PolyStandard submitted an Application to TICA for Advancement of a New Trait (polydactylism) to Championship Status. This Application will be voted on by the members of the TICA Maine Coon Breed section in December of 2009. Should the vote be favourable, Breeders and Fanciers of TICA will be able to show the Maine Coon polydactyl for Titles and Points beginning May 1st 2010, thus becoming the second major Cat Association in the World to accept the MC poly for Championship Status. This will follow the New Zealand Cat Fancy's approval of the MC poly in the Show Ring at the beginning of 2009. PolyStandard encourages you, if you are a TICA member, to make your voice be heard by voting on this proposal. Of course we invite you to Vote YES. We thank you in advance! A copy of our Rationale for submitting the Application with supporting documentation can be viewed by clicking HERE!

Maine Coon poly and non-poly living together peacefully

Bronze Double Grand Champion

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Jazz (Mainelymagic The Jazzman P) is now a Bronze Double Grand Champion. He got the requisite number of points at the last show but one and now we are plugging away aiming for silver and possibly gold (the top award possible)

I am very proud of my pink and white boy. He has been a great cat to show, he has an unflappable nature and takes the whole thing in his stride. It is wonderful that a poly, and a Gen 3 cat (in NZ we call F1, F2 etc Gen1 and Gen2) who is not even on the full register yet has done so well. The first year for showing polys has been a success. I never thought this time last year that I would be writing this, just goes to show what dogged perseverance can do (that and a hard head LOL)



hugs

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

NZ Nationals - and a new Double Grand Champion

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Hi all,
The NZ Nationals have just been held over the weekend.

I took Jazz only, as Diggie does not travel as well. I thought I'd spare him the plane trip.

There were 5 Maine Coons in the entire cat section. The other 4 were full showlines and included imports from Europe and others from US lines. Jazz is still on our provisional register as he is part foundation - from Maine.

I was going to post on the list before I went, but I didn't think Jazz would do that well being a foundation poly. He proved me wrong! His results, which I am bursting with pride to announce, were:
First day (a bit stressed) 3rd best Maine Coon in 2 rings, 4th best Maine Coon in the other. No Top 10 placings
Second day (more relaxed) Best Maine Coon in one ring, 2nd and 3rd in the other two rings. He finalled in 2 rings, 5th Best in Show and 10th Best in Show.

The best of all was that the judge who gave him first Maine Coon (and 5th best in show over all longhair breeds) was the US judge! We had all international judges, the others were from Australia. A group of Maine Coon breeders spoke to him later to ask his opinion of the cats and how they compared to those in the US. He said he hadn't noticed that Jazz was a poly until he was taken out for the finals. He liked his boning and musculature and said he had the best head of the cats. He liked his ear set and the length of muzzle. He was asked if he would have placed him as well if he had noticed he was a poly, and he said it would have made no difference as it is allowed in the NZ standard.

Jazz won enough points at the show (which added to his other points from the other 3 shows) to bring him up to a Double Grand Champion (at least if my math is correct!)

So a momentous weekend for us, Jazz and the polys.

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

Published Study

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For a number of years, some members of the TICA Breed Section list have been in favour of acceptance for the Maine Coon polydactyl. To further this endeavour they have shown in the New Traits classes in TICA shows. One of the major obstacles to this was the lack of scientific data concerning the Maine Coon Polydactyl and the request that studies be presented.

In the past a study brought forth from November 12, 1998 using domestic cats, but it was not specific to cat breed.

For the last five years +, Dr. Leslie Lyons, UC Davis, California, has been receiving DNA swabs from breeders and fanciers around the world from Maine Coon polydactyl sires, dams and kittens. This collected data from UC Davis was submitted to MRC-Human Genetics Unit, Western General Hospital, Crewe Rd, Edinburgh, to be used in the study referenced below.
There has also been ambassadors for the Maine Coon polydactyl present at the World Cat Congress, as well as other shows in Europe. Dr. Lyons stated emphatically on each and every occasion during the discussion of the Maine Coon polydactyl that there were NO issues with polydactyly even when homozygous.

The latest study is:

Human Molecular Genetics, 2008, Vol. 17, No. 7 978–985
doi:10.1093/hmg/ddm370
Advance Access published on December 21, 2007


MRC-Human Genetics Unit, Western General Hospital, Crewe Rd, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK

There is a wealth of information and a number of mediums used in the study. When asked, Dr. Lyons stated specifically that the dna swabs she received for the Maine Coon polydactyl community and Pixie Bob community were used in this study. The discussion of this article summarizes:

DISCUSSION

Analysis of polydactylous cats identified three new mutations associated with preaxial polydactyly. As found for human and mouse (8), the cat mutations reside within the ZRS suggesting that the nature of preaxial polydactyly in cats is equivalent to other mammals. Since these mutations produce a limb-specific phenotype in human with no other discernible physiological defects, we submit that this type of polydactyly has no further detrimental affect on the cat’s health.

The full report can be seen at:

http://www.polytrak.net

On the left side click on INFO/ARTICLES
click on EDINBURGH STUDY

Setting personal preference aside, genetically and health wise the Maine Coon polydactyl is as sound as its regular footed counterparts and consideration should be made for acceptance for Championship Status.
Thanks

Deb Brown

TO IGNORE THE FACTS DOESN'T CHANGE THEM

A Maine Coon Polydactyl is a Maine Coon.
Support for Champion Status - http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/polystandard
Promote the Polys...get your cats listed in PolyTrak!
http://www.polytrak.net
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Showresults

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Moon's show career has ended. Unfortunately she did not like it.