After this discovery, I examined Marigold again, too, and confirmed she still has 22 -- one extra toe on each paw.
The way the extra toes are positioned, it doesn't seem as though they will cause the kittens trouble as they grow. Their parents will just have to be sure to keep the nails trimmed -- especially those toes between the "thumb" and "index finger" on the front paws.
I just adore their giant kitten mitts. It's hilarious to watch them bat things around and paw at each other with them -- especially while they're fumbling around in this clumsy kitten phase.
Those extra large feet are adorable!
ReplyDeleteAnyone know how common is it for cat feet not to be symmetrical--i.e., to have a different number of toes on each back (or front) foot?
I have a polydactyl - he's got 2 extra on one front foot and 1 extra on the other, plus dew claws! Watch out, they figure out doors fast! hahaha!
ReplyDeleteThey'll soon learn how to develop tools next! The days of human supremacy are numbered! I, for one, welcome our new kitteh overlords...
DeleteI have a poly tortie tux (22 toes) and she has incredible vertical leaping skills. The downside of that is the extra toes makes it challenging for her to jump down from really high areas. She tends to land with a very hard thud so I have to help her down so she doesn't hurt herself. Otherwise, she has no issues.
ReplyDeleteI never thought about whether the extra toes could become a problem for some kitties. Do they ever have to be amputated because they cause pain?
ReplyDeleteThey sometimes amputate. Or vets will recommend declawing the extra toe if the nail is growing in a way that makes it impossible to keep it trimmed. Thankfully, we've never had an extreme case where such a procedure was required for kitty's well-being.
DeleteLove these catcher mitts on these kits.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the close up of them yummy toe beans.
They are the cutest!
ReplyDeleteI take care of a cat who has 24 1/2 toes. Yes, he has 2 1/4 extra toes on his front paws... They're like hippo feets. BEST. He's an *animal* when we play tennis with foil balls. (He smashes!) He's the coolest cat. We sometimes take naps together and spoon.
ReplyDeleteI remember a very special big kitty in the Cattery with (...drum roll, please...)
ReplyDelete40 toes! 10 on each foot!
A real highlight of my Cattery career! Yay!
But he was not nearly as cute as these Starlings.
That's a lot of toes! Were the toes smaller than usual cat toes, or did he have absolutely massive paws? Maybe it looked like he was walking on snow shoes...
DeleteLaurie,
ReplyDeleteDon't know if it's just my connection, but none of your Instagram photos are loading (phone, iPad).
I just can't get enough of Poe's wide-eyed, slightly cross-eyed expression! Those mitts are a bonus!
ReplyDelete