Concerned about my Maine Coon's paws?

Hi, I’m having the same issue with my 5-month-old Maine Coon kitten. I’m really concerned as he is a registered pedigree bought from a breeder. I’ve been doing some research and it seems it's called valgus, which is genetic and primarily passed down from the mother. Is this operable? Also, can I take any action against the breeder? They surely must have noticed the problem. Regards

Hi everyone, we’ve bought a registered Maine Coon. He also has carpal valgus. Will this be an issue for his health? Can he still be shown? Wouldn't this be classed as a hidden defect if the breeders were aware of it before selling him? It's hereditary and apparently comes from the mother. It can be operated on, but there are no guarantees. Thanks for any advice!

Evening, how’s your cat’s paw doing now please? Mine seems to have the same issue :/

Hi there, I’ve only just joined this site. I was wondering if you’ve had any answers from the vets yet? And how is your cat doing? I have a kitten (4 months old) with the same problem. The X-ray clearly shows that he’s holding his front paw at an angle, but there’s no fracture. The orthopaedic specialist is stumped; he says he’s never seen a case like this in a cat before.

Hi,

I’ve only just signed up to this site. I was wondering if you’ve had any answers from the vets? And how is your cat doing? I have a kitten (4 months old) with the same problem. The X-ray clearly shows he’s holding his front paw at an angle, but there are no fractures. The orthopaedic specialist is stumped; they’ve never seen a case like this in a cat before.

Hi there, Thanks for your replies, Best regards,

Hello, To speak scientifically, "varus" refers to an inward rotation of the limbs, while "valgus" is an outward rotation. Your cat does indeed have a more pronounced valgus than normal, which might make them a bit more prone to certain bone conditions like osteoarthritis. However, if they aren't showing any signs of pain, it's likely nothing serious. You can mention it to your vet at your next routine check-up, but there’s no need to book an appointment specifically for that. Kind regards, Vincent

Good evening, Thanks for your reply. No, he isn't polydactyl; he's a pedigree bought from a breeder. We were planning on showing him and I think this might be an issue... It might even end up being a bit of a handicap later on as he gets heavier... Thanks, have a good evening.

Hi there, This isn't the first time this question has come up on this forum: https://wamiz.com/chats/maine-coon-12/forum/mon-chat-marche-de-travers-en-canard-101170.html Your Maine Coon doesn’t look polydactyl. Does he definitely have four toes plus a dewclaw? Does he have a pedigree? If not, it’s possible he has a congenital abnormality, which isn't necessarily a cause for concern. Some Maine Coons have very strange-looking paws, even the ones that aren’t polydactyl. The internet is full of photos of bizarre paws in this breed, each one more unusual than the last.