2007-08-20 12:07:54 · 6 answers · asked by tommiebll 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Hemingway kept a number of cats at his home in Florida that had 6 toes on each paw (as opposed to 5 toes). They're called polydactyl cats or sometimes called Hemingway cats. Polydactylism occurs in several breeds of cats, including some Maine Coon cats. Polydactyl is not its own breed.
2007-08-20 12:14:44 · answer #1 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wow! I wondered the same thing when I saw your question so I did a little research:
Ernest Hemingway was an amazing man, with many talents and interests. He was also an inveterate cat-lover, because he admired the spirit and independence of cats. Hemingway acquired his first cat from a ship's captain in Key West, Florida, where he made his home for a number of years. This cat, which may have been a Maine Coon, had extra toes (technically known as polydactyl, latin for "many digits"). Today, approximately 60 cats, half of them polydactyl, make their home in the Ernest Hemingway Museum and Home, in Key West, protected by the terms of his will. At least some of those cats are descendents of Hemingway's first cat, and are given fanciful names, as he once did, after movie stars and even characters in his book.
2007-08-20 12:16:40 · answer #2 · answered by cur417 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A Hemingway cat refers to descendants of Earnest Hemingway's cat (or cats which resemble it). Hemingway had a tabby, most likely a Maine Coon, which displayed polydactyly (more than the normal ten toes).
2007-08-20 12:17:43 · answer #3 · answered by Jessica 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hemingway loved cats, and he liked the polydactyl ones even better. Since polydactylism passes genetically, the cats he accumulated passed it on to the kittens and they became rather famous.
It's a polydactyl cat.
2007-08-20 12:14:45 · answer #4 · answered by Elaine M 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ernest Hemmingway was a greater writer who loved cats. A ship's captain gave him a cat with extra toes. Descendents of these cats live at his home, now a museum. About half of them have extra toes. People have taken to calling cats with extra toes Hemminway cats in honor of the writer. They are not a specific breed of cats.
2007-08-20 12:51:49 · answer #5 · answered by stevko1901 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
also called paradactyls.....they are cats with extra toes....looks they they are wearing mittens on their feet....some have 1 extra toe others have more....mine has extra toes on all 4 feet.....
2007-08-20 12:18:59 · answer #6 · answered by kas 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋