More Info

Did you know?

It was a ship’s captain that first gifted the American author Ernest Hemingway a white six-toed cat, named Snow White, of which the descendants are still living on the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum grounds in Key West, Florida. Ernest’s endearment towards the felines has led to polydactyl cats having the nickname of “Hemingway cats.” The cats with this variant are most commonly found along the East Coast of North America (in the United States and Canada).

How it works

One or two copies of this Polydactyly variant may result in a cat having extra toes on only the front or on all four feet. About half of the cats with one copy of this variant will have extra toes. Cats with two copies of this variant are even more likely to have extra toes.

Health implications

Most polydactyl cats do not need special care apart from regular nail trimming as the nails can become ingrown, triggering pain and infection.