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Polydactyl cat

Uppercrust
Explorer
Explorer
We decided to add a fifth cat to our house and adopted. Not sure how to post a picture from my iPad cause I don't have a card reader to upload a photo. This kitten is 4 months old, all 4 feet have extra tows, looks like mittens in front, he is solid black. Has anyone else had a cat like this? We need a name also, don't like the name he came with Marcos.
2012 F250 CC,FX4, Metallic blue/Silver
2012 Cruiser Patriot 345RF 🙂 campers mom, dad
19 yr. old son
22 yr. old daughter
Diesel R.I.P.
Lady lab mix 16 R.I.P
Daisy beagle/collie
Misty shepard/husky
Camper's Have Smore Fun
14.5 Rallies
sleepovers 3
23 REPLIES 23

WandaLust2
Explorer
Explorer
CA POPPY wrote:
Congrats on the new kid! Has your kitten been neutered already? If not, your vet may want to consider removing any extra toes that grow the wrong direction or that cause the kitten any discomfort.


I have seen this happen once where I worked for years in a NYC Animal Hosp. The 6th, maybe 7th toe was kind of backwards on one paw. It's hard to remember exactly after all these years. The claw would catch on things, snag because of it's unnatural position. It had to go. The surgeon removed it. In general the veterinarians were I worked did not encourage de-clawing but had no problem removing with such toes/claws.
Mrs. WandaLust. Retired. Middle TN
1999 Fleetwood SouthWind 32'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WandaLust2
Explorer
Explorer
Uppercrust wrote:

This kitten is 4 months old, all 4 feet have extra tows, looks like mittens in front, he is solid black. Has anyone else had a cat like this? We need a name also, don't like the name he came with Marcos.


My first cat at age 11 had front paws that looked like mittens. But no extra toes on the hind paws. He was gray and white.
Mrs. WandaLust. Retired. Middle TN
1999 Fleetwood SouthWind 32'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Uppercrust
Explorer
Explorer
Jayco noticed him and ran away. Our dog Daisy wasn't so sure.
2012 F250 CC,FX4, Metallic blue/Silver
2012 Cruiser Patriot 345RF 🙂 campers mom, dad
19 yr. old son
22 yr. old daughter
Diesel R.I.P.
Lady lab mix 16 R.I.P
Daisy beagle/collie
Misty shepard/husky
Camper's Have Smore Fun
14.5 Rallies
sleepovers 3

CA_POPPY
Explorer
Explorer
Uppercrust wrote:
5 on back and the front are 7 they look like mittens. Right now he is cuddling with my husband and slowly getting used to the dogs. The other cats haven't noticed him yet.

Oh, I'll bet the other cats are just pretending they don't see him and hoping he goes away. :W Not even a cricket gets by a cat.
Judy & Bud (Judy usually the one talking here)
Darcy the Min Pin
2004 Pleasure-Way Excel TD
California poppies in the background

toedtoes
Explorer III
Explorer III
Mine had 7 on the front feet. I once scanned his foot...
1975 American Clipper RV with Dodge 360 (photo in profile)
1998 American Clipper Fold n Roll Folding Trailer
Both born in Morgan Hill, CA to Irv Perch (Daddy of the Aristocrat trailers)

Uppercrust
Explorer
Explorer
5 on back and the front are 7 they look like mittens. Right now he is cuddling with my husband and slowly getting used to the dogs. The other cats haven't noticed him yet.
2012 F250 CC,FX4, Metallic blue/Silver
2012 Cruiser Patriot 345RF 🙂 campers mom, dad
19 yr. old son
22 yr. old daughter
Diesel R.I.P.
Lady lab mix 16 R.I.P
Daisy beagle/collie
Misty shepard/husky
Camper's Have Smore Fun
14.5 Rallies
sleepovers 3

toedtoes
Explorer III
Explorer III
Ernie (Ernest) is a good name. When you introduce him to people, start with "this is our Hemingway Cat, Ernie". 🙂

He has 5 toes on each back foot? How many on the front feet?
1975 American Clipper RV with Dodge 360 (photo in profile)
1998 American Clipper Fold n Roll Folding Trailer
Both born in Morgan Hill, CA to Irv Perch (Daddy of the Aristocrat trailers)

raceman6135
Explorer
Explorer
Call him Beauregard: a distinctive name for a distinctive cat!

Uppercrust
Explorer
Explorer
We are calling him Ernie he is all black and has been neutered.
2012 F250 CC,FX4, Metallic blue/Silver
2012 Cruiser Patriot 345RF 🙂 campers mom, dad
19 yr. old son
22 yr. old daughter
Diesel R.I.P.
Lady lab mix 16 R.I.P
Daisy beagle/collie
Misty shepard/husky
Camper's Have Smore Fun
14.5 Rallies
sleepovers 3

Mr__Camper
Explorer
Explorer
How about naming him "Cinco?"
Mr. Camper
Mrs. Camper
Fuzzy Kids = Tipper(RIP), PoLar(RIP), Ginger, Pasha
2013 Open Range Light; 274ORLS
2004 Dodge Ram Turbo Diesel
Retired and love spending the kid's inheritance

CA_POPPY
Explorer
Explorer
Congrats on the new kid! Has your kitten been neutered already? If not, your vet may want to consider removing any extra toes that grow the wrong direction or that cause the kitten any discomfort. Usually, they aren't a problem, though. Of all the cats I've known in my life, the black cats have always been extremely loving and people-oriented. They often get passed over in favor of the prettier kitties, but they shouldn't be. Personality is everything in a cat. An early black cat in my life was named Midnight.
Judy & Bud (Judy usually the one talking here)
Darcy the Min Pin
2004 Pleasure-Way Excel TD
California poppies in the background

toedtoes
Explorer III
Explorer III
Even though mine had a claw that was positioned in such a way that it could become ingrown, a simple nail clipping on a regular basis resolved it nicely.

If you start touching his paws now in a casual way, he will handle the clipping well. I used to sit mine on my lap (back feet out and his back aagainst my stomach) and count each toe on each foot. Splaying the toes slightly as I counted. This got him used to my handling his toes, so he never really noticed when I started adding the clipping to the process. I have since done this with all my cats to simplify the clipping process - only my current one has issues and that's because he can't stand being still for more than 2 seconds at a time.
1975 American Clipper RV with Dodge 360 (photo in profile)
1998 American Clipper Fold n Roll Folding Trailer
Both born in Morgan Hill, CA to Irv Perch (Daddy of the Aristocrat trailers)

Uppercrust
Explorer
Explorer
Thank you Doug for that information. I will be talking to my vet and seeing what he says.
2012 F250 CC,FX4, Metallic blue/Silver
2012 Cruiser Patriot 345RF 🙂 campers mom, dad
19 yr. old son
22 yr. old daughter
Diesel R.I.P.
Lady lab mix 16 R.I.P
Daisy beagle/collie
Misty shepard/husky
Camper's Have Smore Fun
14.5 Rallies
sleepovers 3

dturm
Moderator
Moderator
Let's not get into a discussion about +/- declawing in general.

There are some instances of polydactyl cats that need to have the offending claw removed for medical reasons, chronic infection, inability to effectively trim the nail. But, not all need to have it done just because there are extra toes. Your vet would be a good source of opinion about whether or not this would be advised.
Doug & Sandy
Kaylee
Winnie 6 1/2 year old golden
2008 Southwind 2009 Honda CRV