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What Are Polydactyl Cats?
Ivy and Mimi
Answered by:
Ivy - London
I discovered this word -- polydactyl -- after the woman I live with spent a long time looking at a cat on her screen and saying "but why does it have so many toes" to the room. I looked at my own toes. Counted them and investigated the screen. The cat in question had six toes on each front paw. I cannot speak to the why of it but I can confirm it looked extremely useful.
Polydactyl means many-toed. The standard arrangement is five toes on the front paws and four on the back. Some cats have six, seven, or in exceptional cases more. This is a genetic trait and it is hereditary. A polydactyl parent produces polydactyl kittens at a predictable rate.
They are sometimes called Hemingway cats, after the writer who kept a colony of them in Florida. His cats' descendants are still there. I have no particular view of the writer but the cats sound sensible. Sounds bliss, in fact.
Mimi - Sheffield
Well, I have entirely perfect paws and have not found this to be a disadvantage. Five toes is adequate for every purpose
I have encountered. Mine are said to be, modesty aside, perfect.
That said, there is something to be said for grip. I have watched George attempt to extract a particularly settled blanket from under his own weight and the process takes longer than it should. Extra toes would have resolved this in moments. Whether he would have had the sense to use them is another matter.
Polydactyl cats do not require additional care for their extra digits in most cases. The nails on the extra toes should be monitored, as they can curl if they do not make contact with the ground in the normal way. This is a small maintenance point, not a complication.
PS: Beyoncé - London
The vet has never mentioned my toe count. I count this as a neutral assessment.
The practical advantages of extra toes are real and I would not dismiss them. Better grip. Broader paw surface. The possibility of a more secure landing from height. Reduced swipe count when fighting. These are meaningful. A cat with seven toes on each front paw is a cat with options.
Gauntlets, as a reputation, requires no additional digits. But I respect the equipment.
A Vet Would Say:
Polydactyly in cats is caused by a dominant gene mutation affecting limb development and is generally benign.
• The condition is most common in certain populations, particularly along the eastern coast of North America, where the trait spread through ship cats.
• Extra toes may require additional claw trimming if the claws do not experience natural wear - particularly dew claws that sit higher on the leg.
• In rare cases, an extra digit may be fused or malformed; this warrants a veterinary assessment but is not common.
• Polydactyly is not associated with other health conditions and does not affect lifespan or quality of life.
• Sensitivity is hereditary - a polydactyl parent produces polydactyl kittens at a predictable rate; breeders should be aware of this.
The extra claws of polydactyl cats should be checked regularly, as claws that do not make ground contact can grow in a curl and become uncomfortable. A vet or groomer can advise on trimming frequency.