Companion Animals

Polydactyly in Cats: Welfare and Foot Care

Managing extra toes in cats to prevent nail ingrowth and maintain foot welfare.

Key Facts

Polydactyly is caused by a dominant genetic mutation — common in certain populations
Extra toes can cause nail growth abnormalities if not maintained properly
Hemingway cats on Key West are a famous polydactyl population
Most polydactyl cats live normal, healthy lives with appropriate foot care

Welfare Considerations

Polydactyly is generally benign but requires welfare monitoring — extra toes have nails that may not wear naturally and can ingrow into the toe pad causing pain. Welfare-focused foot care includes regular inspection of extra toes and more frequent nail trimming than in typical cats. Severely malformed extra toes occasionally require surgical removal for welfare reasons.

What You Can Do

Inspect polydactyl cats' extra toes regularly — nail ingrowth causes pain if undetected
Trim extra toe nails more frequently than normal nails — they often do not wear naturally
Seek veterinary assessment if extra toes appear painful, swollen, or have ingrown nails