Charities & VolunteeringCharities & OrganisationsThe tiny kitten with too many toes The tiny kitten with too many toes
13/07/2007
There’s not an awful lot of Rex the ginger kitten. But in one department he is in a league of his own… with 23 toes – five more than normal.
The pint-sized puss was born with extra digits on each paw, a genetic condition inherited from his mother. Known as polydactyl cats, both Rex and his mum Precious have 23 toes – six and seven on their front paws and five on each back paw.
None of Rex’s five litter brothers, Roland, Reggie, Ronald, Ralph and Roger, carry the condition and have the normal number of 18 toes – five on the front and four on the back. Rex and his brothers were born after Precious was handed in to Cats Protection’s Wootton Bassett and District Branch after her previous owner could no longer keep her.
Co-ordinator Duncan Thom said: “Rex was the smallest of the litter and quite weak for a while, but Precious was a great mum and with a bit of help from us Rex has pulled through.
“He is still little, but what he lacks in stature he makes up for with his lovely big paws. He is a real sweetie, just like his mum.
Lucky Rex has already caught the eye of a new owner and will be rehomed when he is 12-weeks-old and has put more weight on.
Maggie Roberts, Cats Protection’s Head of Veterinary Services, says that although not common, polydactyl cats are found across the UK.
She said: “It is a genetic condition which, in the majority of cases, causes no harm to the cat whatsoever. Some polydactyl cats will have just one extra toe on each paw but some can have two or even three extra on each foot.
“There is a legend among sailors that polydactyl cats used to be ship’s cats and the extra toes helped them climb the rigging. It’s a nice story, but these cats do not have a greater climbing ability. It’s neither an advantage or a disadvantage – just an unusual quirk of nature.”
You can find out more about the Cats Protection League by clicking onto the link below.