I live in southeastern Pennsylvania with my two cats, Gracie, a black tortoise shell and Hadley, a gray tabby.
Gracie was abused and kicked out of her house. When November came, I couldn't stand to think of her out in the cold, so I adopted her. The people in the neighborhood who had been feeding her had been calling her "Mittens". She is polydactyl.
I wanted another cat but I didn't think Gracie would like it; she wants to be an only cat. I thought she might do better with an older cat who would ignore her and peacefully co-exist. I went to the SPCA, but didn't really bond with any older cats. Then I saw Hadley (then known as Becca) and just had to take her home with me. She, too, is polydactyl.
I changed their names, not to protect the innocent, but to reflect their connection to the polydactyl cats of Ernest Hemingway. (About half the cats living at his house in Key West, FL are polydactyl.) Hemingway's mother's name was Grace (Gracie) and his first wife's name was Elizabeth Hadley Richardson (Hadley). They get along okay now. It took some patience at first, convincing Gracie I still loved her. She still swats at Hadley sometimes, but I can't say that I blame her. Hadley is an annoying little sister.
I wonder if I'll ever find a male polydactyl; his name would have to be Ernie.
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Gracie was abused and kicked out of her house. When November came, I couldn't stand to think of her out in the cold, so I adopted her. The people in the neighborhood who had been feeding her had been calling her "Mittens". She is polydactyl.
I wanted another cat but I didn't think Gracie would like it; she wants to be an only cat. I thought she might do better with an older cat who would ignore her and peacefully co-exist. I went to the SPCA, but didn't really bond with any older cats. Then I saw Hadley (then known as Becca) and just had to take her home with me. She, too, is polydactyl.
I changed their names, not to protect the innocent, but to reflect their connection to the polydactyl cats of Ernest Hemingway. (About half the cats living at his house in Key West, FL are polydactyl.) Hemingway's mother's name was Grace (Gracie) and his first wife's name was Elizabeth Hadley Richardson (Hadley). They get along okay now. It took some patience at first, convincing Gracie I still loved her. She still swats at Hadley sometimes, but I can't say that I blame her. Hadley is an annoying little sister.
I wonder if I'll ever find a male polydactyl; his name would have to be Ernie.
Blurbosphere.com - Submit blurbs on our blogs for valuable backlinks. We announce blurbs on just about everything!
Contents at a Glance
Gracie and Hadley Stunt Doubles
What is a polydactyl cat?
Most breeds of domestic cats have five toes on each of their front paws and four toes on each hind paw, for a total of 18 toes altogether. A polydactyl cat is a cat with more than usual number of toes on one or all of its paws as a result of a genetic mutation. Polydactyl cats are actually quite common and can be found at most animal shelters.There is some controversy over whether polydactylism is a trait or a breed. Polydactyl cats have extra toes because of a dominant gene which would suggest it is a trait. However, American polydactyl cats can be registered with the breed society if one parent is polydactyl which suggests it is a breed.
Other nicknames include Hemingway cats, boxing cats, mitten cats, thumb cats, six-finger cats, and Boston thumb cats.
Watch the Polydactyls
Where did they come from?
Polydactyl cats probably came to the United States on ships in the Colonial Period. Sailors valued these cats for their climbing and hunting abilities which aided in controlling shipboard rodents. Some even considered them to be extremely good luck when at sea. It is believed that the appearance of these cats spread widely to other areas as a result of cats carried on ships originating in Boston. The prevalence of polydactylism among the cat population of various ports correlates with the dates when they first established trade with Boston which supports this theory.
Paws Up!
Why Hemingway Cats?
Ernest Hemingway is one of the more famous lovers of polydactyl cats. It is believed he was given a six-toed cat by a ship's captain. After his death in 1961, his former home in Key West, Florida, became a museum and a home for his cats; it is currently home to approximately sixty descendants of his cats (about half of which are polydactyl). Because of his love for these animals, Hemingway cat, or simply Hemingway, is a term which has come to describe polydactyls.See www.hemingwayhome.com/HTML/our_cats.htm to see pictures of the cats living at Ernest Hemingway's home.
Tell me about your cats!
motorpurrr wrote...
Sweet! A poly lens. I have one, I love it when she make a fist. Have you noticed that polys are smarter?
Posted January 18, 2009
KimGiancaterino wrote...
I have two polydactyl cats, including Mama Kitty, rescued 15 years ago. She had a litter with two polydactyls. The female was adopted, but I still have the male, Sunny. Gracie and Hadley look very happy! Great lens.
Posted July 01, 2008
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Interesting Facts:
* According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the record for the cat with the most toes is 28, held by Jake from Canada.
* It is believed that Hemingway owned over 60 polydactyl cats over his lifetime.
* It is believed that Hemingway owned over 60 polydactyl cats over his lifetime.
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by dmsky
I have always had cats as pets. I can't remember not having one. Even in college, where pets were forbidden, I managed to hide one for a year.
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