The Pigment Parade (updated 2018) by Lorraine Shelton, TICA Provisional Allbreed Judge and Genetics Instructor Of all the genetics questions I get asked, no other genetic phenomenon seems to inspire curiosity quite like our cats that have white on them. Some are totally white, some have patches of white, some have cute little white mittens and boots, and some have…

Test Breeding new Maine Coon Foundation Lines? By Judith Schulz, MasterWeaver, previously Prairiebaby/MasterWeaver Cattery, Canada. (Please note: This article can be applied to other breeds as well!) When a breeder brings new foundation lines into the Cattery for the first time, he will most likely ask himself the following questions: What type of test breedings are the most conclusive? What about…

Observations of Feline Polydactyly By Sheila L Curtis, Indys, & Lucinda King BA (Hons), Handaros. 17th January 2007.(Reprinted with permission) Cats usually have eighteen digits, 5 on each foot and 4 on the hind feet. Polydactyl (also referred to as hyper-dactyl) cats have extra digits on their feet. Polydactyly is the presence of more than the usual number of digits. It derives…

Natural Protection of Genetic Variation By Per-Erik Sundgren, Dr Agric., Genetica, Sweden.(Reprinted with permission) Introduction Programs to preserve genetic health in dog breeds have been intensively discussed in Sweden in connection with the development of breed specific genetic strategies. Why have breed specific strategies at all become a necessity in dog breeding? In nature there are no special breeding programs or strategies…

 "This page was originally a part of the Maine Coon Heritage Site, a site that was first created in 1998 by Cynthia Bowen (Coontopia), Ulrika Olsson (Ylletrollets), Astrid Straver (Tricks and Tails) and Janet Marr (Furkats). It was then taken over by PawPeds, and it is now split up to fit better with the structure of PawPeds' website." Inbreeding and…

Genetics By Ulrika Olsson Introduction Basic genetics Different types of inheritence The color genetics of cats Cat genetics for coat, ears and tail The inheritence of some diseases and defects Breed to avoid genetic diseases How do we fight already existing health problems? Summary Introduction Why is one supposed to learn all this? After all, it is a hobby, not…

Breed to Avoid Genetic Diseases By Ulrika Olsson The risk of genetic diseases is something that is discussed more and more often among cat breeders and in the different cat clubs and associations. Of course we all want our cats to be healthy! Still bad genetic diseases show up every now and then in different breeds. Why does this happen?…