Cute Polydactyl Kitty Jinx Has Toes That Look Like Another Paw

Jinx is an adorable cat with beautiful jet-black fur who comes with a little something extra. That’s because this cute little dude has extra toes, making him look like he almost has a set of extra paws, meaning he’s a polydactyl kitty. Jinx, now a former stray, found himself at the Kansas Humane Society (KHS) and it wasn’t long before he found his furever home.

“Jinx doesn’t have extra toes. He has extra paws, and he’s planning to use them for world domination! You know, daily cat things…” KHS joked introducing this friendly cat and extra toes that do, indeed, make it look like he has an extra paw.

“Jinx is polydactyl,” KHS added. “While polydactyl cats have this genetic abnormality, it doesn’t cause them any pain or health problems — they just have extra toes.”

Jinx Finds His Furever Home

They placed Jinx up for adoption in early March on a Wednesday, and by Thursday he was adopted, People reports. Rebel O’Connor, of Wichita, took the adorable cat home.

“I adopted this curious little guy! He fits perfect in our home!” O’Connor wrote in a comment on Instagram.

And Rebel tells me he’s enjoying his new life. He’s adventurous and full of kitty inquisitiveness.

“He’s a very curious cat. Opens cabinets, just always up for exploring,” Rebel says. “He wants lovin’ on his own time. Loves to play with dogs, and tease our other cat, whom is older. He’s a free spirit and his curious mind gets the best of him at times.”

Quite obviously Jinx has found the purrfect furever home. 

But now I’m including a few facts about polydactyl kitties that you might not know.

Cats are usually born with five toes on each front paw and four on each back paw but polydactyl cats are actually very common and have earned the nickname Hemingway cats, a direct reference to author Ernest Hemingway’s love for cats. The late author kept polydactyl cats and many other kitties at his home in Key West, Florida, which is now known as the Hemingway Home Museum. The polydactyl felines mated with other cats, thus spreading the unusual trait. The place is now home to 60 polydactyl felines, all of them descendants of the famous author’s cats.

What Causes Polydactyly In Cats?

According to The Spruce Pets, this condition is caused by a genetic mutation in a dominant gene and often results in the formation of up to four to seven toes on a cat’s paws. Polydactyly usually affects the front paws but it also occurs on the hind paws. It’s extremely rare for all four paws to be affected.

While this condition certainly looks adorably odd, it’s also beneficial for some cats who have this. Their feet are, after all, wider and larger, which makes it easier for them to balance themselves on some surfaces. This also makes climbing, hunting, and catching prey easier.

Jake, an adorable ginger tabby who lives in Ontario, Canada, has 28 toes and he currently holds the Guinness World Record for the kitty with the most toes.

Polydactyl Cats Were Believed To Bring Good Luck.

When pirates ruled the seas, black, calico, and polydactyl cats were believed to bring good luck. These kitties were regular denizens on ships of the age. With those large paws, they made excellent mousers and excelled at keeping ships vermin-free. 

Almost certainly due to their maritime travels, polydactyl kitties are most commonly found in Western England, Wales, and Canada. It’s thought these special cats were transported from England across the Atlantic ocean, where they bred with non-polydactyl cats, thus proliferating this unique genetic trait.

Maybe if Jinx had been alive at that time he’d be considered doubly lucky, since he’s black and polydactyl. But I’m glad he’s here with us now, in a safe and loving furever home. Where he belongs.

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