Cat-Volution: Meet Teddy, A Cat With Opposable Thumbs

Developing opposable thumbs was a key step in allowing humans to evolve into what they are today, and is said to be the main reason that we were able to begin using tools.

Meet Teddy, a 3-year-old domestic shorthair, who is called a “polydactyl” because of the existence of extra toes on his hind and front legs. Teddy’s owner is Selvynna Tang from Vancouver, Canada. She set up an Instagram page where she shows off her cat and his adorable natural mittens.

It is rather interesting to see this type of seemingly evolutionary change to a cat’s physique, even if it only currently appears in part of the gene pool. Maybe someday the Earth will also be home to feline bipeds.

According to International Cat Care, Polydactyly is inherited as an autosomal dominant gene defect and may be caused by varying genes depending on breed. The range of how these extra digits can manifest can range from a lump of soft tissue to a fully functioning digit. Sometimes the extra digits might not be fully attached to the rest of the skeletal or other organ systems, which may add to the risk of accidental injury.

Some people have apparently started to breed specific lineages of cats with polydactyly, but this is not recommended, as it is putting the cats through the unnecessary risk of injury for the sake of human entertainment.