Cats with six toes, known as polydactyl cats, primarily inherit this trait through genetics. If one parent is polydactyl, there's a 40-50% chance their kittens will also have extra toes. The term "polydactyl" [pol-ee-dak-til] literally means "many fingers" or "many toes", derived from the Greek words "poly" (many) and "daktylos" (finger or toe).
Typically, cats have five toes on their front paws and four toes on their back paws. Polydactyl cats have at least one extra toe, most often on their front paws. These extra toes usually resemble the cat's other toes. When one of the extra toes is large and thumb-like, this is called a "mitten cat" or "thumb cat", as the paw resembles a mitten or glove.
Besides being famously associated with author Ernest Hemingway, polydactyl cats are also referred to as "snowshoe cats", "big foot cats", "six-toed cats," or "thumb cats". The trait, caused by a genetic mutation, means that a cat can have additional toes. The likelihood of a kitten being born with polydactyly is between 40-50% if one of their parents possesses the gene for the condition.
These additional toes usually mirror the standard toes on a cat's paws. When an extra digit appears to be a larger, opposable "thumb", the cat is often called a "mitten cat" or "thumb cat". These paws can then resemble a human hand, giving them the nickname "glove cat".
The first scientific record of six-toed cats dates back to 1868. These cats are frequently found in the Northeastern United States and Nova Scotia. Some theorize that these cats arrived in America with British Puritans in the 17th century. Sailors often valued them as good luck, as they were thought to be skilled mousers and better balanced in rough seas. Thus, these unique felines often traveled with sailors on voyages.You might also like:Pet Breeding
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