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By Laurie Rich

How many toes can a cat have on one foot? Some have far more than others.

Normally, a cat has 18 digits. The front paw has five toes -- four toes and one dewclaw (the small toe on the side of the foot that doesn't touch the ground). The rear paw normally has four toes. Some cats have extra toes on a paw, with the extra digits usually appearing on the thumb side or as an extra dewclaw.

This condition is referred to as polydactyly (paw-lee-dak-till-lee), which comes from Greek for poly, meaning many, and daktulos, meaning fingers. Polydactylism is caused by a naturally-occurring inherited genetic trait that may have originally arisen from a genetic mutation.

In cats, polydactyly always affects the forepaws, so most poly cats simply have extra toes on their front feet. But some cats may have extra toes on the back feet, too. Rear paw polydactyly does not occur without forepaw polydactyly.

The number of toes can vary on each foot or can be the same. Most often, a poly cat will have one or two extra toes on each front paw, usually arising from the thumb area. Some cats have opposable toes and can use them as thumbs, meaning they can do some amazing things like open doors or pick up objects.

Any breed of cat (and even other mammals, including humans) can show this trait, although it is quite common in Maine Coon cats (with approximately 40% experiencing this trait). Polydactyly has been found in cats all over the world, and has even been reported in leopards. In the U.S., the largest population of polydactyl cats are found in New England and Florida.

American polydactyl cats probably came to the United States on ships during the Colonial Period. They were kept by sailors who considered them to be extremely good luck while at sea. The sailors believed the cats were superior mousers and that the extra toes helped the cats climb better as well as balance themselves better during stormy sea weather.

Polydactyl cats are known by various names, including mitten cats, thumb cats, six-finger cats, boxing cats, and Hemingway cats.

The latter name comes from writer Ernest Hemingway, who lived on the small island of Key West in Florida. Hemingway is said to have adored cats, and he shared the island with nearly 50 felines, including a six-toed polydactyl given to him by a ship's captain. The island's cats bred and the polydactyl trait became common, with the ratio of polydactyl cats to normal-toed cats at approximately 50/50. The island's colony still thrives, and some of the cats who live on the island today are descendants of that original polydactyl.

Polydactyl cats require a bit of extra care. Their claws need to be kept trimmed since they are prone to overgrowth. And depending on the position of those extra toes, the claws can potentially curl around and grow into the toe pad, so it's important to watch for this.

Apart from their special feet, polydactyl cats are just like any other cat. Having extra toes doesn't affect their health or life span.

And extra toes mean more kitty to love!

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