Meet the Hemingways: Polydactyl Kitties

These cats are toe-tally ready for their close-up! A polydactyl cat, often referred to as a "Hemingway cat," is a cat that has more than the usual number of toes on one or more of its paws. Normal cats have five toes on their front paws and four toes on their back paws. Polydactyl cats can have six (or more) toes on their paws.

What’s Polydactyl?

A polydactyl cat, often referred to as a "Hemingway cat," is a cat that has more than the usual number of toes on one or more of its paws…

Whatcha Hiding?

I think your extra toes are cute, so there!

Scoop der it izz or scoop where u whizz

I Was Normal, then I got a Hemingway.

These Lil Ones Love watching Looney Tunes when they aren’t being looney themselves.

Here come dee hot stepper

This genetic trait is caused by a dominant gene that results in the extra toes. It's not associated with any health disadvantages, and the extra toes don't usually affect the cat's ability to walk or climb. The name "Hemingway cat" comes from the famous American writer Ernest Hemingway, who was given a polydactyl cat by a ship's captain. Hemingway's home in Key West, Florida, now a museum, still houses many of these multi-toed cats, descendants of that original cat.