Poly vs Standard
Paw shortcode cheatsheet, toe counting, overview of poly vs standard paws on Maine Coons.
| Features | Standard Maine Coons | Polydactyl Maine Coons |
|---|---|---|
| Number of digits | 5/5/4/4 | Many different combinations possible; usually |
| Care | Nail clipping takes less time | More toes to clip! |
| Stability | Negligible (unless walking on snow often) | Walking on snow is easier for them |
| Selection of Toys | All toys work | Some toys do not have big enough holes for their large paws! |
| Paw Usage | Normal | They can use their paws, pick up pens, or hold your finger! |
| Overall Looks | Paws are smaller | Giant paws making them look huge! |
| Price | Lower; less expensive than polydactyl Maine Coons | Higher; more expensive than standard-toed Maine Coons because they are rarer |
| Personality | Unaffected | Unaffected |
Maine Coon Paws Cheatsheet
The format goes: front-left/front-right/back-left/back-right.
- Standard
5/5/4/4- Five digits (toes) on each front paw and 4 digits on each back paw. Standard-toed Maine Coons have 18 digits in total.
- Front and back poly
6/6/6/6- Six digits on each paw
6/6/5/5- Six digits on the front paws, five on the back paws
7/7/6/6- Seven digits on the front, six on the back
8/8/7/7- Eight digits on the front, seven on the back (often expressed as a double foot)
- Front poly
6/6/4/4- Six digits on the front, four on the back
- Back poly (rare; not advantageous in the wild)
5/5/6/6- Five digits on the front, six on the back
5/5/5/5- Five digits on the front, five on the back
4/4/6/6- Four digits on the front, six on the back
There are many other possible combinations!
Polydactyl Maine Coons
For pictures, check out our Polydactyl Maine Coon Photos!
Maine Coons have naturally evolved to have extra toes. This helps them to walk on the snow better. Their extra, well-tufted toes help them walk on the snow better and give them more stability. There are two different types of polydactyl paws:
Mitten Paws
This type of polydactyl has clearly visible opposable thumbs. This type of polydactyl passes down and can be inherited from parents.
Patty Paws
Being blessed with patty paws is like winning a genetic lottery. There are no visible opposable thumbs. Patty paws make the paws look perfectly symmetrical.