Does anyone else have a cat like that? Anyone know how it happens. Mama cat was normal. They are quite cute, they look like they are wearing oversized mittens on their paws.
2006-09-07 05:03:49 · 12 answers · asked by LAUGHING MAGPIE 6 in Pets ➔ Cats
They are polydactyls/hemmingway kitties. I had one growing up.
What is Polydactyl?
The trait for polydact comes from a dominant gene, and only a polydactyl cat can parent another polydact. Although the Maine **** (whose ancestors are also thought to have immigrated to the U.S. aboard ships) is believed to have been the first breed to have this trait, polydact is considered a fault in that breed, and indeed in every other breed except the Pixie Bob, a relatively new breed.
So, rather than a breed, polydact is just a genetic trait, somewhat like the genetics for the tabby pattern. Instead of the normal 18 toes (five on each front foot and four on the rear) found on most cats, polydacts have six or more toes on the front feet, and sometimes an extra toe on the rear. (The cat depicted in the photo has seven toes in front, which makes it easy to understand why they are sometimes called "Mitten Cats.") However, unlike the popular tabby, whose pattern can be found in many breeds, the polydact is frowned upon by breed registries. Why? According to Barbara French, although not inherently dangerous, there is a possibility that the extra toes could be malformed, either with two toes fusing, or with ingrown toenails.
Although not approved as "purebreds," polydacts are adored by their human companions. Whether called "polydactyls," "Hemingway Cats," or "Mittens," these many-toed cats warm the hearts and hearths of those people fortunate to share a home with one.
2006-09-07 05:07:06 · answer #1 · answered by Nikki T 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Folks here are right. The cats are "polydactyly".
Here's the long answer: "Polydactyly, or extra digits, is a common trait among cats, particularly it seems, among Celtic cats and cats on part of America's Eastern coast and South West Britain. This distribution may well be linked. Except for Twisty Cats, polydactyly is not a product of bad breeding. It is simply a naturally occurring genetic variation and is found in fossil reptiles - meaning that five digits might be the abnormal form! ...Polydactyly (six or seven toes) varies from the classic "mitten cat" through to cats which simply have more toes than normal, but no "thumb". A correspondent to the New Scientist noted that the innermost extra toes on the front paws are often opposable and some cats use them with quite startling proficiency to manipulate small objects with almost human dexterity. Some owners of polydactyl cats joke that their cats are more intelligent because of this and represent the next stage in feline evolution - the ability to open cartons and cans unaided."
Interesting, huh?
2006-09-07 05:16:29 · answer #2 · answered by Fetch 11 Humane Society 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's really nothing wrong with 7-toed cats. This kind of thing just seems to happen once in awhile in litters. I've had 7-toed cats in the past and they were the sweetest, most easy-going cats I've ever had.
2006-09-07 05:47:22 · answer #3 · answered by DragonL 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nothing to worry about. This just happens in nature once in awhile. We had a cat that lived for 21 years and he had 7 toes.
2006-09-07 05:07:16 · answer #4 · answered by Harley 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a genetic aberration and not uncommon in cats. They look like they are wearing little snowshoes!
Sometimes they are called Hemingway cats. At Hemingway's property in Georgia (I think) the cats were very inbred and almost all the cats there have multiple "toes".
It must be a recessive gene so the mother cat was a "carrier" and the daddy cat was a carrier also though neither displayed it.
2006-09-07 05:12:01 · answer #5 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Basically, to put it simple, it’s from inbreeding. The mother and father are from the same litter. I had a cat with the same thing, but he had 7 on one paw and 6 on the other front paw.
2006-09-07 06:08:26 · answer #6 · answered by luvlynspecial 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Extra toes is a somewhat common genetic trait in cats. The mother doesn't have to have it for the kittens to have it.
2006-09-07 05:08:36 · answer #7 · answered by catintrepid 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My aunt had two cats, father and son, who both had extra toes. It does make them look like they are wearing mittens! Cute, isnt it?
2006-09-07 05:09:32 · answer #8 · answered by momofboys 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in the state of Michigan we call them Michigan paws 80% of the cats in Michigan are like this it means the cat will be a good mouser I always look for a cat like this and there are breads of cats that all have these extra toes ... we payed $100.00 for a cat like that. and they are worth it .
2006-09-07 05:36:56 · answer #9 · answered by Terri M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
do you mean toes? if so its a genetic defect that got passed down through one of the parents genes. its not that uncommon. my sister has a 5 toed cat. they will grow up just like regular cats and your right it does look cute!
2006-09-07 05:32:40 · answer #10 · answered by rose45 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋