Cat tales

In the medieval times polydactyl cats in Europe were killed during the witch hunts. This is said to have dramatically reduced the number of polydactyl cats.

Although they are not uncommon in Britain, the natural occurce of polycats in other parts of Europe is reported to be small.Polydactyl cats were considered by sailors in the 1800s to bring good fortune. They were also believed to be better at catching mice and rats, an important duty at sea.

The innermost extra toes on the front paws are often opposable similar to our thumbs. These "thumbed" cats´ popularity amongst sailors, (who used them to rid their ships of harmful pests and to control the spreading of illnesses
) , helped bring polycats to America in the colonial times.

The ship´s ratters and lucky charms arrived with early British settlers and merchant sailing ships, accounting for their greater frequency in the Eastern states of America

What is polydactyl?

Polydactyly is the presence of more than the usual number of digits on any or all limbs. Polydactyl comes from the Greek words "polys" meaning "many" and "daktylos" meaning "fingers" or "toes".

Polydactyl cats are sometimes called "mitten cats", "thumb cats", "six-finger cats", "Hemmingway cats" or "polycats" ;) .

Cats usually have 5 toes on each forepaw, and 4 on each hind paw. Poly- or hyperdactyl cats have more than the usual 18 digits on their paws. Polydactyly can be found in any breed of cat and the number and form of the extra toes can vary considerably. Polycats may only have one extra digit on one paw, or extra digits on all paws. It may be a complete extra toe or an extra dewclaw (rudimentary / undeveloped toe or thumb). The extra digits appear mostly on the thumb side of the limbs.

Thumbs has seven digits on her front paws and six on each of her back paws. She uses her" thumbs" with quite startling proficiency. She looks a little like a baseball CATcher... She can manipulate small objects with almost human dexterity and grabs things with her "thumbs" and paws.

Rondal and Thumbs

(He stays in charge of the remote control ...and tells her to keep her thumbs off of it!)

Our smooth collie, Kip has quickly come to recognize that Thumbs is the Princess Diva of the house - and he is a mere dog -- and a boy dog at that. He smiles, and wants to befriend her, but she looks at him in that way that cats look at dogs... and boys. Kip is okay with that. He knows his place.

Interesting fact: HalleyAnna's friend, Joseph Schlotter gave Thumbs her name. It's a perfect fit.

Some owners of polydactyl cats joke that their cats are more intelligent because of these "thumbs" and that they represent the next stage in feline evolution - the ability to open cans and cartons without help. Rondal will like her more if she learns to open beer bottles.

Interesting Fact: Actress Marilyn Monroe was a polydactyl. She had six toes.

Thumbs is a Republican cat. We think she would do well in the White House.

President George Herbert Walker Bush and his wife Laura have two polydactyl cats. 10-year old India makes her home in the White House, but Ernie, their huge orange hunter was deemed too Texas for the White House - and lives comfortably on the Presidential Ranch in Crawford, Texas.

On September 11, when the Secret Service came in to escort the First Couple to safety, one agent got the two dogs, another agent grabbed the special briefcase with the direct line phones, and another agent helped Laura with her bags. One agent saw India dash out of the room and under a sofa and chased after her. The President stopped him and said, "Don't worry about that darned cat. She'll be fine."

Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961), the renowned American author, was given a pair of Siamese polys as a gift from one of his friends, a ship´s captain named Stanley Dexter, at his home in Key West. He owned the home in Florida from 1931 until his passing in 1961. Today there are many descendants of Hemmingway´s polycats wandering the Florida Keys.