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what causes a cat to have extra toes? over the years, i ...
Sent to Cat Experts July 16 01:14 PM

what causes a cat to have extra toes? over the years, i have had 3 black cats from different mothers, all with extra toes.

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July 16 1:45 PM (30 minutes and 22 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark

Hello and thanks for your interest in this subject!

The scientific term for this type of cat is "polydactyl" (many toes!).

This was originally a genetic defect, but since it is not life-threatening, it persists in many cat populations.

This type of cat has traditionally been considered to be lucky, and kittens were often given as gifts!

The author Ernest Hemingway once received a polydactyl cat from a ship’s captain. He brought this kitty home to Key West, Florida where it began to mix with the other cats on the property.

There are now sixty multi-toed cats living on the Key West property owned by the Hemingway Estate! Your local experience is likely similar in origin.

http://www.hemingwayhome.com/HTML/our_cats.htm

These feet, as you know, do need special nail-clipping attention to prevent the claws from growing around and into the foot.

Enjoy the luck and love that these pets bring!



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GenB -- Retired Veterinary Technician100% Positive Feedback on 175 Cat Accepts
Kitten, Adult, Geriatric Cat Care Specialist/ B.A. Neurophysiology & Animal Behavior/ Plain English!
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July 16 1:58 PM (13 minutes and 42 seconds later)
         
Reply to GenB's Post: someone suggested to me that it could be from parents of the same bloodline such as a brother and sister creating a litter. could this be possible or is it an actual defect in the cat itself such as chromosones or dna?
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July 16 2:04 PM (5 minutes and 55 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark

These extra toes result from a very old mutation on the DNA...there is no evidence that I am aware of that this is an in-breeding condition...we probably will never know what originally caused it.

Your cats are likely related somewhere in their past, and the likelihood that a trait is expressed does depend in part on the concentration of the genes, but polydactyl does not imply any other problems (such as reduced mental capacity). These cats are just as healthy and intelligent as cats with "normal" type feet.

Cats in neighborhoods are related, but these cats are pretty well found all over the world nowadays.



Your concern has touched me--if you have follow-up questions, or need to clarify your case, please let me know right away! Your "Accept" helps me reach out to others!
2 Other Experts Agree with this!
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GenB -- Retired Veterinary Technician100% Positive Feedback on 175 Cat Accepts
Kitten, Adult, Geriatric Cat Care Specialist/ B.A. Neurophysiology & Animal Behavior/ Plain English!
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July 16 2:09 PM (4 minutes and 26 seconds later)
         
Reply to GenB's Post: thanks genb ive always been curious about it!
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