Polydactyl What?!


~ by Rachel Seagrave

Have you ever seen a kitten or cat with more toes than you think it should have? If you have, you were probably looking at a Polydactyl cat! Polydactyl simply means that one has more digits than the normal number of five on each paw. Most Polydactyl’s have one or two extra toes. The extra toes can make it appear that the cat has a thumb or is wearing mittens.  While not a trait of a particular breed, Polydactyl’s come in all types and colors, and is genetically inherited.

Hemingway Cat
Hemingway Cat

Polydactyl cats have many nicknames such as Mittens, Snowshoes, or Thumbs, but my favorite name—and what I personally call them—are Hemingway Cats, named for the famous author who made his home in Key West, Florida. Many years ago Ernest Hemingway was given his first Polydactyl cat by a ship’s captain (it is considered good luck to have a Polydactyl cat on-board a ship). He named the cat “Snowball.” From her descended the 60+ cats that now reside at the Hemingway museum in Key West. Over half of these cats have the extra toes and fondly carry the name Hemingway, in keeping with their benefactor’s tradition of naming his cats after famous people.

You may want to keep on your toes for that chance meeting with a little Polydactyl!

Similar Posts

  • Jackson’s Story

    Jackson is a male Doberman, approximately 7 years old. He was rescued this past December, 2015. He came to us due to medical neglect. Jackson had a large tumor on one hind leg. His owners were going to just let him die from the tumor. THANKFULLY, they agreed to surrender him to the Rutherford County Humane Society. The estimated cost of the surgery was $600. Donations had been requested and received. The problem was that he might have lost the entire leg, not to mention, his life. And the tumor might have been cancerous. He went into surgery to remove the tumor. The surgery was a success and the biopsy was negative. Jackson had physical therapy and time to recover. He was neutered and brought…

  • Personal Panthers  

    Several beautiful Personal Panthers are currently in foster care and available for adoption through Rutherford County Humane Society. Personal Panthers come in an assortment of colors, shapes and sizes. Personal tigers available too! Note: I authorize Helen Jones to use this poem for the benefit and promotion of Rutherford County NC Humane Society. Any other use of this is forbidden without the author’s permission.Beverly Kalinowski Personal Panther   by Bev Kalinowski The sleek black cat leaps into the air.Peacock feather prey moves onas he crouches with pupils widening.The green of his eyes become a thin lined circle ashis muscles wind up for the next attack. He leaps with the morning sun behind him andI cannot help but appreciate his lean, athletic silhouette.Small velvet paws spread wide…

  • Can You Pass The Chained Dog Test?

    Most humans probably can’t. But many dogs in Rutherford County pass this test every day. All day and night, in fact. Granted, once someone has tied them up with a rope or chain, they have no choice in the matter. Let’s see how well we humans can do. It’s “easy.” Simply put a collar around your neck with a rope or chain tied to it, then take the other end of the rope or chain and tie it somewhere sturdy. So that you can’t get loose. Now, see how long you can stand it. For an extra fair test, make sure you keep yourself tied up in all sorts of weather, just like dogs do. Try this out in hundred degree temperatures with gnats and…

  • A Stray Dog’s Prayer

    Dear God, please send me somebody who’ll care! I’m tired of running, I’m sick with despair. My body is aching; it’s so racked with pain, and dear God I pray, as I run in the rain. That someone will love me and give me a home, a warm cozy bed and a big juicy bone. My last owner tied me all day in the yard sometimes with no water, and God that was hard. So I chewed my leash, and I ran away. To rummage in garbage and live as a stray. But now God, I’m red and hungry and cold, and I’m so afraid that I’ll never grow old. They’ve chased me with sticks and hit me with stones, while I run the streets…

  • TNR Rutherford County

    What is TNR? TNR stands for Trap-Neuter-Return.  (sometimes Trap-Neuter-Return-Vaccinate or Trap-Neuter-Release). TNR is a humane, non-lethal method of managing feral and free-roaming cat populations. TNR reduces the need for shelter euthanasia because it lowers the number of cats and kittens entering the shelter system. TNR of Rutherford County, NC is a local group of compassionate volunteers in Rutherford County who humanely capture unwanted cats in the community to be spayed/neutered and vaccinated. In conjunction with animal control and other established community programs, TNR of Rutherford County, NC volunteers return the spayed/neutered and vaccinated cats to their original outdoor locations, which helps stabilize feral cat populations and stop the breeding cycle. TNR of Rutherford County, NC is dedicated to working within communities by educating and empowering…

  • Dog Heatstroke Survival Guide

    Know how to treat and prevent this dangerous condition. ~ Robert Newman What is heatstroke? In simple terms, heatstroke occurs when a dog loses its natural ability to regulate its body temperature. Dogs don’t sweat all over their bodies the way humans do. Canine body temperature is primarily regulated through respiration (i.e., panting). If a dog’s respiratory tract cannot evacuate heat quickly enough, heatstroke can occur. To know whether or not your dog is suffering from heatstroke (as opposed to merely heat exposure), it’s important to know the signs of heatstroke. A dog’s normal resting temperature is about 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Once a dog’s temperature rises above 105 degrees, physiological changes start to take place, and the dog begins to experience the effects…