Glossary

Polydactyl

A cat born with extra toes on one or more paws, caused by a common dominant inherited trait that is usually harmless.

Also called: polydactyly, extra toes, mitten cat, Hemingway cat

A polydactyl cat has more than the usual toes, which is five on each front paw and four on each back paw. Many have six or seven on the front paws, and some have extra toes on the back as well. The paws can look broad and mitten-like, hence the nickname mitten cat. Cats of this kind are also called Hemingway cats, after the writer Ernest Hemingway, who kept polydactyl cats at his Key West home, where descendants still live.

The trait is inherited as a dominant gene, so a kitten with one polydactyl parent has a good chance of showing it. It appears in random-bred cats, and has long been seen in parts of New England and in the Maine Coon, where it was once common. Most breed registries do not allow polydactyl cats to compete, though they can be fine pets.

Extra toes seldom cause trouble, but each has its own claw, and these can grow long, catch on fabric or curl into the pad. Check them often and trim regularly. If a toe looks swollen or the cat limps, ask your vet.

Last reviewed November 7, 2026

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Related terms

Dewclaw The small thumb-like claw higher up on the inner side of each front leg that does not touch the ground. Retractable claws Cat claws that rest sheathed inside the toe tips and extend only for climbing, gripping and hunting, which keeps them sharp. Paw pads The thick, cushioned, hairless pads on the underside of a cat's feet that absorb shock, give grip and help it walk quietly. Colourpoint A coat pattern with a pale body and darker ears, face, legs and tail, caused by a temperature-sensitive pigment gene.