Extra Toes
Polydactyly (Variant 3)
Alternative Names: Polydactylism, Polyphenism
Polydactyly (Variant 3) may result in extra toes on all four feet.
More Info
Did you know?
Charles Darwin was a patron of the early cat shows during the late 19th century. It's reported he showed particular interest in the polydactyl cats, after previously writing about them in his 1850’s book “The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication.”
How it works
One or two copies of this Polydactyly variant may result in a cat having extra toes on all four feet. About half of the cats with one copy of this variant will have extra toes. Cats with two copies of this variant are even more likely to have extra toes.
Health implications
Most polydactyl cats do not need special care apart from regular nail trimming as the nails can become ingrown, triggering pain and infection.
Technical Details
| Gene | LIMBR1 |
|---|---|
| Variant | T>A |
| Chromosome | A2 |
| Coordinate | 169,532,842 |
All coordinates reference FelCat9.0
References & Credit
Credit to our scientific colleagues:
Lettice, L. A., Hill, A. E., Devenney, P. S., & Hill, R. E. (2008). Point mutations in a distant sonic hedgehog cis-regulator generate a variable regulatory output responsible for preaxial polydactyly. Human Molecular Genetics, 17(7), 978–985. View the article
Hamelin, A., Begon, D., Conchou, F., Fusellier, M., & Abitbol, M. (2017). Clinical characterisation of polydactyly in Maine Coon cats. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 19(4), 382–393. View the article