Polydactyly is a mutation, but it does not effect the cats life in any way. Polydactyl cats are lovingly called Hemmingway cats. Hemmingway loved polys so much that his last residence in Florida became a museum and home for his cats upon his death. It is said that he received his first poly named Snow White from a ship captain. Polys were very well loved by sailors, who thought that they brought good luck, in addition to be perfect hunters on their ships because of their extra toes, and kept the rodents under control.

Polys  have more than the usual 18 toes, as a normal cat. Their front paws look like mittens which also earned them another nickname mitten cat. Most polys are found along the Eastern Coast line of the United States and Canada – but also in the southern parts of the UK.

We are one of a few breeders in the US who breed polys!