What Is a Polydactyl Cat?
Polydactyl cats are defined by the extra toes with which they are born, and they can come in any size, shape or breed. American author Ernest Hemingway is perhaps the best known owner of polydactyl cats, nearly 60 of whom still roam the property where he once lived in Key West, Fla. According to the official website for the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, Hemingway began his own collection of the extra-toed cats when he was given a six-toed cat by a ship's captain. Some of the cats who live on the museum grounds today are descendants of that original cat. Visitors from across the world travel annually to the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum to view the unique felines.
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How Many Toes?
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Normally, cats are born with only four toes and a thumb on each paw. In comparison, polydactyl cats can be born with up to seven toes on a paw.
Cause
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Polydactyl kittens are born as a result of a congenital abnormality that is genetically inherited. As with most abnormalities, kittens born with extra toes are the result of inbreeding somewhere in their family history. Polydactyl cats can be born short-haired or long-haired and are usually mixed breeds.
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Is It a Harmful Condition?
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Being born polydactyl does not mean a cat has a degenerative disease or condition. Some kittens might have difficulty learning to walk, but that is usually the extent of the hardship it will face during life as an extra-toed cat.
Other Differences
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According to its cat breed profile on www.dogbreedinfo.com, polydactyl cats are much like any other cat in terms of needs, health concerns, socialization and grooming requirements. However, some owners with the organization Maine Coon Polydactyl International say their polydactyl cats, in comparison to regular felines, are more relaxed and mellow than other cats they have owned. But, aside from having larger feet, there are no documented differences between polydactyl cats and regular domestic cats.
How to Adopt a Polydactyl Cat
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Polydactyl cats are available from breeders and can often be found for adoption at your local animal shelter. The Cat Fancier's Association offers a breeder referral search engine on its website at http://www.cfa.org/cbrs.html. You can also search specifically for a polydactyl cat on www.petfinder.com.
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