Have you ever seen a cat that looks like they have extra large paws, like they are wearing boxing gloves? You may have been meeting a polydactyl cat – a feline with a genetic mutation that gives them extra toes. Poly meaning many and dactyl meaning finger or toe. Most cats have a total of 18 toes.
The gene that causes the mutation is dominant, meaning if one parent carries the gene the kittens in the litter will have a 50% chance of inheriting the trait. The specific mutation regulates the sonic hedgehog gene which is important during limb and digit development. It is most common for the front paws to be affected. It is quite rare for only the hind paws to be affected, and even more rare for all 4 paws to be affected.
There are no major health concerns with polydactyl cats, they can live long, healthy, comfortable lives. However, they should have regular nail trims to ensure their nails do not grow into their paw pads/skin and to prevent the extra nails from getting caught causing injury.
Purrfectly Fun Facts
- The Guinness World Record for most toes on a cat is 28!
- It is believed early settlers brought polydactyl cats with them to the Americas as they were very helpful with pest control
- Erin and Marsha have polydactyl cats
- Hemingway loved polydactyl cats, which is why they are sometimes referred to as “Hemingway cats”
https://www.petmd.com/cat/general-health/polydactyl-cats
https://basepaws.com/blog/genetics-of-polydactyly-celebrating-the-hemingway-cats
