Their extra toes can make it appear as if the cats have thumbs or like they are wearing mittens. Pretty cute! However, polydactyl cats are not exceedingly rare. Many animals, including humans, can be have extra fingers or toes, but in cats this congenital anomaly is more common than you might think.

Are Polydactyl cats common?

Occurrence. Polydactyly is a congenital abnormality that can be inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. ... Polydactyly is most commonly found on the front paws only; it is rare for a cat to have polydactyl hind paws only, and polydactyly of all four paws is even less common.

Are Polydactyl cats worth money?

The price of a polydactyl cat can vary widely. In most cases, this breed can range anywhere from $600 to as much as $13,00. The price will greatly depend on the marking, its parents, the type, bloodline, the breeder and the quality.

Do Polydactyl cats have problems?

Are there any health issues associated with polydactyl cats? Polydactyl cats are generally healthy and have an average life span. But those extra toes can grow at unusual angles and cause problems with the cat's claws and skin on the foot.

How rare are cats with extra toes?

Genetically, polydactylism is a simple autosomal (not related to gender) dominant trait. Cats with extra toes have the dominant gene, Pd. A cat needs only one copy of this gene from either parent to have the trait. If one parent has it, 40 – 50% of the kittens will have it too.

Do You Know These "Extra" Facts About Polydactyl Cats?

26 related questions found

Why are polydactyl cats so common?

Cats with extra toes have them because of a genetic mutation that often results in a dominant gene being shared down a family tree. ... This is fairly common, and the reason for the famous “Hemingway cats” being so frequently associated with the mutation. Ernest Hemingway was a cat lover whose cat had extra toes.

What is so special about polydactyl cats?

Polydactyl cats have more than the usual number of toes on one or more of their paws. These kitties are born with an abnormal, dominant genetic mutation called polydactylism. While the polydactyl cat's appearance is quite unique, the polydactyl gene is somewhat common.

Are polydactyl cats better hunters?

Polydactyly Can Actually Benefit Some Cats

Because polydactyl cats have wider, larger paws, they're better able to balance on various surfaces, climb, hunt, and capture their prey.

Are polydactyl cats more clumsy?

Some polydactyl cats seem to be extra good at climbing (possibly due to the extra width of their paws and additional grasping capabilities of the extra toes), but others just seem to be clumsy, as if they have two left feet (errr… toes).

Do polydactyl cats need extra care?

Most polydactyls get around just fine with multiple toes and don't require special care. However, polydactyls' nails do need regular trimming, as they can become ingrown, causing pain and infection. Have your vet inspect your cat's paws regularly to see whether there are any issues related to his extra digits.

What percentage of cats are Polydactyl?

Today, there are about 40 to 50 polydactyl cats — some of them Snow White's own descendants — that still live at the Hemingway Home & Museum and are protected as historical treasures. His affection for extra-toed felines is the reason why polydactyl cats are often called "Hemingway cats" today.

What is the life expectancy of a polydactyl cat?

On average, a healthy Polydactyl will weigh somewhere in the region of 10-20 pounds, with a life expectancy of up to 15 years. Outdoor cats, regardless of breed, have a far lower life expectancy than indoor cats, usually surviving for less than 5 years.

What does it mean when a cat has 6 toes?

What Is a Polydactyl Cat? The term polydactyly means many toes. This is caused by a genetic trait that occurs in certain felines whose parents passed this trail down through their lineage. This dominant gene can produce up to seven toes on each paw.

How much is a polydactyl cat?

American Polydactyl kittens can cost quite a bit—ranging from $500 to $1,300, depending on a few different factors. There are two types of Polydactyl cats. One is the American Polydactyl, but another is the Maine Coon Polydactyl.

What is feline Down syndrome?

A so-called "Down syndrome cat" typically manifests some distinctive characteristics, including: Broad noses. Upturned eyes (which may be set widely apart) Small or unusual ears. Low muscle tone.

Should you declaw a polydactyl cat?

Removing Claws for Safety

These cats go home with no bandages, and I emphasize that this is absolutely not like a declaw. These claws are often smaller, may be growing aberrantly and are never walked on — so recovery is quick and quite painless.

Why are they called Hemingway cats?

Ernest Hemingway was given a white six-toed cat by a ship's captain and some of the cats who live on the museum grounds are descendants of that original cat, named Snow White. ... Hemingway named all of his cats after famous people so we follow that same tradition today.

What race is polydactyly most common in?

Polydactyly is twice as common among men. It occurs in 1 in 1,000 births in the general population. It's found more frequently in the African American population, occurring in 1 in 150 births.

Why do cats only have 4 toes?

They lost the ability to grab things or turn their hands and feet to the side. So, maybe cats with only 4 back toes are able to run faster than cats with a full set of toes. Having 5 front toes can still be helpful for grabbing prey, climbing trees, or slashing.

What is a polydactyl Maine Coon?

Polydactyl Maine Coons are born with extra toes, due to inherited genetic anomaly. They're nicknamed 'double-paws' due to their double width paws. Polydactyl stands for multi-toed. Physical anomaly commonly found on East Coast of North America.

How common is polydactyly?

About one in 500 people in the United States are affected by polydactyly, with it affecting both males and females at almost the same rate. People of Asian and Caucasian decent are more likely to have radial polydactyly. Ulnar polydactylism is more common in people of African decent.

Do cats have 9 lives?

For one, cats are not described as having nine lives in all cultures. While certain areas around the world believe that cats have multiple lives, the number nine is not universal. For example, in Arabic-speaking parts of the world, cats are believed to have six lives.

What cats are blessed with extra toes?

Popularly known as "mitten kittens" or "Hemingway cats," the eight-week-old domestic shorthair kitten named "Titus Pullo" has polydactylism: a genetic mutation which causes cats to be born with more than the usual number of toes on one or more of its paws.

Can cats be double jointed?

(The margay, a tree-dwelling South American cat, has double-jointed ankles and wrists that allow it to descend as easily as it ascends.) Inexperienced or frightened cats may go higher than they should.