Holy Polydactyly!!

[MizM]

The neighbor kids brought me a 2 week old kitten last week, found under a house. He was covered in fleas, dehydrated and weak. Didn't want to post him, 'cuz I wasn't sure he was going to make it... well, a week later, he's up and walking, attacking his bottle, burping louder than my sons..... AND he came with an added feature, he's a polydactyl, something I haven't seen since I was a kid!!

Here's "Six":

 

[pitbulllady]

Awwhh! He is too cute! I rescued a small black cat from the dumpster at one of the schools where I teach a few years ago; she was inside a cardboard box which had been duct-taped shut, and I heard her screaming when I went out to scavenge for a box to pack up some art supplies in. She is a polydactyl, with seven toes on each front paw, and all of her kittens have also been polydactyl, so I guess it's a dominant genetic trait. I kept one of her sons, who is blue and white just like your kitty, and he has front feet that look like he's wearing boxing gloves. You know, some people are now calling these "Hemingway" cats, because Ernest Hemingway had a bunch of polydactyl cats at his home in Key West, and their decendents are still there, and still have too many toes!

pitbulllady

 

[DnKslr]

AAAWWWW! What a cutie!
I found a little abandoned flea covered kitten a few years ago. I couldn't keep it but we fed it and nursed it back to health with regular vet checks. I gave her away to a friend of mine and she became the fattest cat I've ever seen! She was also very very friendly even as a kitten. She is definitely NOT neglected now.

 

[biznacho]

polydactyl? like Hemingway's cats? 6 toes? cool.

biznacho

 

[Yve]

EXTRA digits!! better get the blankets on your furniture!

 

[MizM]

Awwhh! He is too cute! I rescued a small black cat from the dumpster at one of the schools where I teach a few years ago; she was inside a cardboard box which had been duct-taped shut, and I heard her screaming when I went out to scavenge for a box to pack up some art supplies in.
pitbulllady

That is TOO sad!! How on earth can people DO that to such a cute creature???? I'll NEVER understand.

I've been reading up on it and evidently, they can't figure out exactly how the gene gets passed on or something like that, so they can't breed a pure line of them. Mine actually has 7, cuz the little dewclaw counts as a toe, but I just call him "Six". Not sure if I will keep him yet, but I will definitely wean him and find him a loving home!!

I laughed when I read about Hemingway's cats, I had forgotten about them too. But it sure explains a lot about Drew, doesn't it?

 

[Malkavian]

I've got a picture a friend of mine has of a polydactyl cat aptly named "Footer" ---it got HUGE. not sur eif thats a byproduct of the poly gene or just the species of cat

 

[MizM]

I remember reading that they do have a propensity to be larger than regular cats. I only spent about 5 hours online reading about them!!! Couldn't stop, it was fascinating stuff!

 

[pitbulllady]

My original polydactyl cat, "Tilly", is a very small, delicate creature. She obviously has some Siamese in her, since she is very "talkative" and has that same fine-boned structure of the "Oriental" breeds. One of her kittens has matured into a normal-sized cat, though he is VERY loud(again, the Siamese influence), while the sibling, "Peanut", who is the blue-and-white, is a rather large cat, though not what I'd call huge. Then again, I used to have Maine Coons, and they ARE huge, larger than most bobcats in this part of the country, so I don't consider most other cats to be all that large(domesticated cats, I mean). Peanut is pretty laid-back and stocky in build, but he has this little pointy head that just doesnt' go with the rest of him-looks like some mad scientist grafted a ferret head onto a cat body!

pitbulllady

 

[woijchik89]

Aww, Were I live cats are considered a nuisense, like rats or something.

But I guess 6 toed cat's are cool.

Although I hate cats I still have some simpathy for polydactyl's.

 

[MizM]

No need for sympathy... the anomaly only makes them more endearing and valuable!

 

[Melmoth]

MizM,
He's gorgeous,give him a pet for me.You are so kind taking him in.I took in a stray black cat some 8 years ago.Spent a fortune in vets bills getting him well.Worth every penny. He's still with me.Never seen a polydactyl cat before.

 

[rapunzel]

My new Maine Coon kitty, Tootsie is a polydactyl-in fact I had to pay an extra hundred dollars because she had those extra toes-she has six on the fronts, five on the backs. Its a bonus in the breeder world.

 

[MizM]

My new Maine Coon kitty, Tootsie is a polydactyl-in fact I had to pay an extra hundred dollars because she had those extra toes-she has six on the fronts, five on the backs. Its a bonus in the breeder world.

Ooooh, ooooh, PICTURES PLEEZE!!! I understand it's a very common trait among Maine Coons. They say that since sailors considered them lucky, there are more in cities near the ocean because the sailors "collected" them, thus, a higher concentration.

PICTURES.... PLEEEEZE!!!!

 

[minax]

Umm?

I thought a polydactyl was a prehistoric bird, Terri !!? ;P I think you photo shopped all this, just to get attention! Or maybe you have been doing some of the genetic engineering you told me about a while back. I think someone needs to back off on the catnip!!

 

[MizM]

I thought a polydactyl was a prehistoric bird, Terri !!? ;P I think you photo shopped all this, just to get attention! Or maybe you have been doing some of the genetic engineering you told me about a while back. I think someone needs to back off on the catnip!!

Hey, I told you not to tell anyone about the genetic research! DAMN you... now everyone will know about the 10 legged T that I've developed!!! (LOL)

Oh, the prehistoric bird is the TERRIdactyl!!! :}

 

[minax]

Oh, the prehistoric bird is the TERRIdactyl!!! :}

LOL!!!! I KNEW you were holding out on us.............always trying to fool us with those dumb blonde jokes............but you can't fool ME!! I knew you were up to something with that research!! Can the 10 legged T drive the Camaro yet?

Anyway...........I really love the cat, I used to own one like it, only it had the "regular" toes. His name was Thomas, and I will never forget him.

 

[MizM]

LOL!!!! I KNEW you were holding out on us.............always trying to fool us with those dumb blonde jokes............but you can't fool ME!! I knew you were up to something with that research!! Can the 10 legged T drive the Camaro yet? Anyway...........I really love the cat, I used to own one like it, only it had the "regular" toes. His name was Thomas, and I will never forget him.

OMG, THOMAS!! Thomas was the best cat I ever had in my entire life!! One night I was doing laundry in the garage, I had forgotten to put some towels in. I ran in the house to get them and when I came out, Thomas was dead in the street. He was HUGE, you couldn't miss him (kinda looked like a Maine Coon with that bright white and tiger stripes). Some (_*_) had to have been going very fast, I was only gone about 30 seconds! (I'm POSITIVE it wasn't a motorcycle tho!! ) Wow, I haven't though about him for a while!

Well, thanks for letting everyone know that I have brains. Now I'll have to be accountable for my intelligence!!!

 

[LPacker79]

You know, some people are now calling these "Hemingway" cats, because Ernest Hemingway had a bunch of polydactyl cats at his home in Key West, and their decendents are still there, and still have too many toes!

Yes, many people are (falsely) calling polydactyls "Hemingway cats." However, in order to be a true Hemingway cat, it has to be descended from one of Hemingway's personal cats. This trend of calling all polydactyls "Hemingways" is incorrect. I'd love to have a polydactyl, they look like they've got oven mitts for paws. So cute! My Sassy just has the normal amount of toes and there will never be another 4 legged animal here as long as she's around, she would shred it within an inch of it's life. She's evil.

 

[rapunzel]

here ya go:

Ooooh, ooooh, PICTURES PLEEZE!!! I understand it's a very common trait among Maine Coons. They say that since sailors considered them lucky, there are more in cities near the ocean because the sailors "collected" them, thus, a higher concentration.

PICTURES.... PLEEEEZE!!!!

there are more of her in the thread "I finally brought my new kitty home.." or however I worded it. Here are todays sleepy pictures: