Polydactyl Cats: The “Extra Toe” Trait Explained (And How to Care for Mitten Paws)

If you’ve ever looked at your cat’s paws and thought, “Hang on… do they have thumbs?”, you might be living with a polydactyl cat. Polydactyly simply means extra toes, and it’s one of the most charming quirks you’ll see in cats—often creating wide, mitten-like paws that look a bit like they’re wearing gloves.

The good news: for most cats, extra toes are more of a novelty than a medical problem. But they can come with a few practical care needs, especially around claws.

What Counts as “Normal” Toes for a Cat?

Most cats have:

• 5 toes on each front paw
• 4 toes on each back paw

That’s 18 in total.

Polydactyl cats have more than that, often on the front paws, but sometimes on all four. The extra toes can be small and subtle, or they can create a noticeably broader paw shape.

Why Do Some Cats Have Extra Toes?

Polydactyly is typically genetic. It’s a naturally occurring trait that can be passed down through families of cats, which is why you might see it pop up in certain regions or lineages.

Common misconception: “Extra toes must mean inbreeding or deformity.”

Not necessarily. Polydactyly can appear in healthy cats and doesn’t automatically imply poor breeding or illness.

Is Polydactyly Dangerous or Painful?

In most cases, no. Many polydactyl cats:

• run, jump, climb, and play normally
• don’t have pain from the extra toes
• live long, healthy lives just like any other cat

Where problems can happen is when the extra toe leads to:

• awkward claw angles
• nails that grow into pads
• hidden dirt or irritation between toes

So, it’s not usually the toes themselves—it’s the claw and paw maintenance that matters.

Do Polydactyl Cats Need Special Care?

Not special care… but more consistent paw checks.

A Simple Paw Routine That Works

Aim for a quick check once a week:

• Look between toes for redness, debris, or irritation
• Check claws for overgrowth, especially on the “extra” digits
• Watch for limping, licking, or sensitivity when you touch the paw

Nail Trimming: The One Thing Polydactyl Cats Often Need More Of

Because extra toes can mean extra claws, and those claws don’t always wear down evenly, many polydactyl cats benefit from trimming every 2–4 weeks.

Tip: Trim a tiny amount at a time. If your cat dislikes it, do one paw per session and reward with a treat.

Litter Habits and Paw Hygiene

Extra toes can create extra little spaces where litter or dust can cling—especially if your cat is an enthusiastic digger.

A clean litter set-up helps:

• keep paws drier and cleaner
• reduce the chance of grit getting trapped between toes
• make it easier to spot changes in your cat’s toileting patterns

Using a low-dust, high-absorption litter like Pacha Litter can be particularly helpful for paw cleanliness, especially for cats with larger, more “spread” paws.

When to Speak to a Vet

Polydactyly itself usually isn’t an emergency, but contact your vet if you notice:

• swelling, heat, or a bad smell around the paw
• bleeding from a claw or pad
• persistent limping
• a claw that repeatedly grows into the pad
• excessive licking of one foot

In rare situations where an extra claw consistently causes pain or infection, a vet may discuss treatment options. That’s not the same as routine declawing (which is not recommended); it’s targeted medical care when there’s a quality-of-life issue.

Fun Facts About Polydactyl Cats

Polydactyl cats are often nicknamed “Hemingway cats” because Ernest Hemingway famously kept many cats, and a number of them had extra toes. Sailors also historically liked cats with larger paws, believing they were lucky and steady-footed on ships—whether or not that’s true, it’s a brilliant story and explains why polydactyl cats sometimes appear more in coastal communities.

Final Thought

Polydactyl cats aren’t “broken” cats—they’re just cats with a little extra built in. For most, the only real difference is that they’ll benefit from regular claw checks, careful trimming, and a clean home routine. Keep their paws tidy, keep the litter area clean with Pacha Litter, and enjoy the charm of those unmistakable mitten paws.