Polydactyl Cats: Breeds Most Likely to Have Extra Toes

Last updated: May 6, 2026

What Is a Polydactyl Cat?

A polydactyl cat is simply a cat born with more than the standard number of toes. Normal cats have five toes on each front paw and four on each back paw, for a total of 18. Polydactyl cats can have anywhere from 19 to 28 toes, with the extras usually appearing on the front paws. The condition is caused by a dominant gene that’s been passed down through certain cat populations for centuries.

Polydactyl cat breeds aren’t officially recognized as separate breeds in most registries, but the trait appears much more often in some populations than others. You’ll sometimes hear polydactyl cats called “Hemingway cats” after the novelist Ernest Hemingway, who kept a colony of them at his Key West home. That colony still exists today, and many of its cats have six toes on each front paw.

The Genetics Behind the Extra Toes

Polydactyly in cats is controlled by an autosomal dominant gene, which means a kitten only needs to inherit one copy to show the trait. If one parent is polydactyl, roughly half the litter will have extra toes. The gene doesn’t cause any health problems in the vast majority of cases, and the “mitten paws” or “thumbed paws” are fully functional.

There’s also a rarer form called preaxial polydactyly, where the extra toe forms on the thumb side and looks almost like a human thumb. Some of these cats can grip objects more deliberately than typical cats, though they don’t have opposable thumbs in the human sense.

Responsible breeders and rescues sometimes screen polydactyl kittens to ensure the extra toes are structurally normal. Rarely, a cat may be born with a condition called radial hypoplasia, which is a deforming mutation that superficially resembles polydactyly but causes joint and bone problems. A vet can tell the difference.

Maine Coon: The Classic Polydactyl Breed

Historically, up to 40 percent of Maine Coons were polydactyl. The trait was common in the breed’s early days because the cats worked as rodent catchers on ships and farms in New England, where larger paws were thought to help with walking on snow and gripping wooden ship decks. Sailors and farmers considered polydactyl Maine Coons lucky.

When Maine Coons began competing in cat shows in the mid-twentieth century, breed standards were set that excluded the polydactyl trait, and breeders selected against it. Today, registered Maine Coons rarely have extra toes. However, a growing movement within the breed community has pushed to re-accept polydactyl Maine Coons, and some registries now recognize them as a separate variety.

If you want a polydactyl Maine Coon, breed-specific rescues and independent breeders who preserve the historical trait are your best source. For care information on the breed in general, see our Maine Coon grooming guide.

American Polydactyl: A Breed in Development

The American Polydactyl is an emerging breed specifically developed around the polydactyl trait. Breeders are working to establish it as a distinct recognized breed, with the extra toes as a defining feature rather than an accidental one. These cats are bred for temperament, health, and conformation in addition to the polydactyly itself.

Temperament varies because the breed is still being standardized, but most American Polydactyls are friendly, active, and playful. They come in all coat lengths, colors, and patterns, which means the breed is currently more defined by the toe count than by appearance.

The breed is still uncommon, so finding one usually involves connecting with a dedicated breeder or specialty rescue.

PixieBob: Wildcat Look With Extra Toes

The PixieBob is one of the only officially recognized breeds that permits polydactyly in its breed standard. PixieBobs are large, bobtailed cats bred to resemble the American bobcat in appearance, though they have no documented wild ancestry despite early breeder claims. The breed standard allows up to seven toes per paw.

PixieBobs are intelligent, dog-like, and trainable. They often learn to walk on a leash, play fetch, and respond to verbal commands. Their semi-long coats come in brown spotted tabby and require moderate grooming, typically weekly brushing.

If you want a polydactyl cat with a wild look and a dependable breed standard behind it, the PixieBob is worth considering. They’re not common in general shelters, but breed-specific rescues do exist.

Ship’s Cats and Feral Populations

Polydactyl cats spread around the world largely by ship. Sailors valued the trait because they believed the extra toes gave cats better balance at sea and better grip in rough weather. Polydactyly became especially common in port cities along the New England coast, in Wales, and in southwest England.

As a result, you’ll find higher-than-average rates of polydactyl cats in mixed-breed feral populations in these regions. Cats rescued from port cities sometimes have extra toes even when they show no Maine Coon or PixieBob ancestry. If you adopt from a rescue in Boston, Halifax, or Bristol, for instance, you may be more likely to meet a polydactyl cat than in other regions.

Caring for a Polydactyl Cat

Polydactyl cats generally need the same care as any other cat, with a few extra considerations. The extra toes can have extra nails, which means nail trims take longer and require more attention to make sure no claw is overlooked. Some polydactyl cats have dewclaws or thumb-like toes that don’t touch the ground during walking, and these claws can grow long or ingrown if not checked regularly.

Schedule nail trims every three to four weeks and inspect all toes during the process. If you see a claw curving back into the paw pad, contact your veterinarian immediately. Some polydactyl kittens also benefit from early nail-trim acclimation so they tolerate the process as adults.

Otherwise, polydactyl cats enjoy the same diet, play, and enrichment as any other cat. Their extra toes don’t affect personality, lifespan, or typical health outcomes.

Finding a Polydactyl Cat to Adopt

Polydactyl cats come up in general shelters frequently enough that you don’t necessarily need to search a breeder to find one. Ask rescue staff to flag any “extra-toed” cats in their intake notes, and check in periodically. You can also contact the Hemingway Home in Key West, which sometimes rehomes cats from its colony.

Breed-specific rescues for Maine Coons, PixieBobs, and other polydactyl cat breeds maintain waitlists and may have specific cats available. Start your search at Walk Me Home’s cat adoption hub and go from there. If you’re open to mixed breeds, you’ll find polydactyl cats much faster than if you’re set on a specific breed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are polydactyl cats rare?

Polydactyly is uncommon overall but not truly rare. Certain regions and bloodlines carry the gene at higher rates. You may need to search several shelters before finding one, but most large metro areas see polydactyl cats pass through regularly.

Do polydactyl cats have health problems?

In most cases, no. The extra toes are structurally normal and don’t cause issues. Owners should monitor nail growth on any extra toes that don’t touch the ground during walking.

What’s the record number of toes on a cat?

The Guinness World Record is held by a cat with 28 toes. Most polydactyl cats have between 20 and 24 toes, with six toes on each front paw being the most common variation.

Can I register a polydactyl cat as a Maine Coon?

It depends on the registry. Most major registries do not permit polydactyl Maine Coons in show competition, but some alternative registries specifically recognize them. Talk to the breeder about paperwork before purchasing.

Are Hemingway cats a breed?

No. “Hemingway cats” is a nickname for polydactyl cats in general, inspired by the author’s colony in Key West. The cats at that colony are mixed breeds, not a specific recognized breed.