shorthair
American Polydactyl
Origin: United States
The American Polydactyl is an emerging breed built around the endearing trait of extra toes — the 'mitten' or 'thumb' paws made famous by Ernest Hemingway's cats. Beyond the paws it is prized as a robust, good-natured, working-type companion.
- Origin
- United States
- Category
- shorthair
- Lifespan
- 12–18 yrs
- Size
- Medium to Large
- Weight
- 4–8 kg
- Coat
- Short to medium, dense and weather-resistant
- Colours
- Any colour or pattern
😺 Temperament
🏡 Best suited to
📊 Personality ratings
📜 History & origin
Polydactyly — being born with more than the usual number of toes — has cropped up in cats for centuries, especially along the coasts of England, New England and Canada, where sailors are said to have valued extra-toed cats as sure-footed shipboard mousers. The American Polydactyl is an effort to develop a formal breed around that trait, selecting for a healthy, sturdy, all-round domestic cat that happens to carry the dominant polydactyl gene. It remains an experimental/emerging breed rather than one accepted by the major championship registries, and it is deliberately kept distinct from the polydactyl form of the Maine Coon.
🧼 Care & grooming
Care is refreshingly simple: a short, easy coat needs only occasional brushing, and the breed's laid-back temperament suits family life. One point of attention is the paws themselves — the extra toes and their claws should be checked regularly, as some cats have an additional claw that can grow around and needs trimming so it does not curl into the pad.
🩺 Health notes
The everyday polydactyly seen in these cats is generally harmless and does not impair movement. Ethical breeders avoid the rare, severe form known as 'twisty cat' or radial hypoplasia and never double up on the most extreme expressions of the gene, which is why responsible pairing matters. Otherwise the American Polydactyl benefits from the general hardiness of its mixed working-cat ancestry.