If you’ve ever seen a cat with extra toes, you’ve met a polydactyl cat! These cats have a unique and adorable feature that sets them apart from other cats. Here are five fun facts about polydactyl cats that every cat lover should know.
Polydactyl Means “Many-Toed”
The term polydactyl comes from the Greek words poly (many) and daktylos (finger or toe). Most cats have 18 toes with five on each front paw and four on each back paw. Polydactyl cats, however, typically have one or two extra toes, usually on the front feet. Some polydactyl cats have up to six or eight toes per paw.
Polydactyly is a Dominant Trait
The extra toes are the result of a harmless genetic mutation that’s been passed down over generations. A polydactyl parent has a higher chance of having polydactyl kittens since the genetic mutation is a dominant trait. It’s common for a few or all of the kittens of the same litter to be polydactyl.
Their “Thumbs” Aren’t Actually Thumbs
Polydactyl cats often look like they have thumbs, especially when the extra toes appear on their front paws. However, these are not true opposable thumbs. They are just additional toes. They do, however, make for very interesting paw prints.
They Were Beloved by Sailors
Centuries ago, sailors considered polydactyl cats to be good luck charms on their ships. Their extra toes were thought to help them balance better on deck and catch mice more easily. Many polydactyl cats can trace their ancestry back to ship cats that traveled across oceans. Because of this, they’re particularly common in coastal areas like New England and the United Kingdom.
Ernest Hemingway Loved Them
The author Ernest Hemingway was a big fan of polydactyl cats. A ship’s captain once gave him a six-toed cat named Snow White, and soon, Hemingway’s Key West home became a haven for polydactyls. Today, the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum still houses dozens of Snow White’s descendants, many of whom are polydactyl cats.
Polydactyl cats are perfectly healthy; they just have some bonus toes. It is even thought that the extra toes improve their balance and dexterity, helping them jump and climb even better than the average cat!
Love, Nala
