Things to Know About Polydactyly Cats

You have probably heard of polydactyly cats before. Cats born with an unusually large number of fingers are called "polydactyly cats". While most cats have five fingers on their front paws and four on their back paws, polydactyly cats may have six or more fingers on each paw. Polydactyly is a genetic anomaly that can cause the formation of extra fingers, and although it is more common in some breeds, it can occur in all cat breeds. In this article, you can find information about polydactyly cats, along with answers to the question "What causes polydactyly?".

What Causes Polydactyly?

Polydactyly is caused by a mutation in a gene. Cats are usually affected on their front paws, but it can also occur on all paws. Often described as having six toes, polydactyly cats generally don't experience health problems. In other words, polydactyly is not considered a genetic mutation that puts cats' overall health at risk. While having extra toes can make nail trimming a little more difficult, we're sure you can easily overcome this difficulty once you start trimming your cat's nails. It's important not to confuse polydactyly with feline radial hypoplasia. Like polydactyly, feline radial hypoplasia can also cause the formation of extra toes in cats. However, in feline radial hypoplasia, the extra toes form very close to the cat's normal toes, potentially causing deformities in the paws.

Polydactyly May Be an Advantage for Some Cats!

Although the extra toes don't have distinct functions, some cats may benefit from having six toes. Polydactyl cats have wider paws, which can make climbing, hunting, or holding prey easier, and they can also maintain better balance on different surfaces. Of course, this can also lead to increased damage to scratched surfaces. Cats are animals that instinctively exhibit scratching behavior. When it comes to scratching furniture at home, it may be necessary to allow them to exhibit this instinct on different items. Cat scratching posts are one of the products that make life easier for those who live with cats. You can browse cat scratching post products here.

Polydactyl Cats Are Believed to Bring Good Luck

We know that there are many legends about cats. We have also come across rumors that some cats bring good luck to sailors. We know that polydactyl cats, like black cats, are believed to bring good luck to sailors. In the past, polydactyl cats, which had very good hunting skills due to their large and wide claws, were taken on long voyages to keep ships free from pests. The six-toed cats, which are frequently found in regions such as West England, Canada, and East America, were thought to bring good luck to sailors. Their ability to move skillfully even in rocky areas when the ship docked was considered a reflection of their physical capabilities.

Polydactyly is Quite Common Among Maine Coon Cats

Maine Coon cats, which have developed to suit the harsh and snowy climate conditions of Maine, have wide paws like snow boots. Many polydactyl cats are found in this breed, which has insulated, wide paws. This genetic mutation, which makes them better hunters in the wild, is also a noteworthy element that adds to their cuteness as it does not harm their health. Maine Coon cats are not only distinguished by having extra toes; they are also among the largest cat breeds. For details about the largest cat breeds, you can read our blog post titled "What Are the World's Largest Cat Breeds?" here.

Polydactyl Cats Are Not a Separate Breed

Contrary to popular belief, polydactyl cats are not a separate breed, type, or species. Genetic mutations that can lead to the formation of extra toes can affect any breed. Although, as mentioned earlier, their frequent occurrence in Maine Coon cats leads to them being considered a breed characteristic, polydactyly does not create a breed difference.

Polidaktil Kediler Hamingway Kedileri Olarak Biliniyor

Nobel Prize-winning author Ernest Hamingway's cat was polydactyl. It is said that he became deeply attached to his cat from the moment he first saw it and helped raise awareness about polydactyl cats. Because their recognition increased with Hemingway, six-toed cats are also sometimes called Hemingway cats.