Our Own Polydactyl - Hemingway

Polydactyly (six or seven toes) varies from the classic "mitten cat" through to cats which simply have more toes than normal, but no "thumb". A correspondent to the New Scientist noted that the innermost extra toes on the front paws are often opposable and some cats use them with quite startling proficiency to manipulate small objects with almost human dexterity. Some owners of polydactyl cats joke that their cats are more intelligent because of this and represent the next stage in feline evolution - the ability to open cartons and cans unaided.

Polydactyl cats are known by various names - "mitten cats", "thumb cats", "six-finger cats", "Cardi cats" and "Hemingway cats". The latter is because of writer Ernest Hemingway who made his home on the small island of Key West, Florida. He shared the island with nearly 50 cats, including a 6-toed polydactyl given to him by a ship captain; the cats bred and the polydactyl trait became common, hence polydactyls are often known as "Hemingway Cats".

Link to the complete article on Polydactyly cats: http://www.messybeast.com/poly-cats.html#whatis

We have one in our foster system. Our Hemingway is a jewel, known as Hemi to us his foster family. He is a big guy who likes to talk letting you know that he wants and needs attention. He gets along pretty well with dogs, however he loves to pick on my beagle, Popeye. Popeye has a way of wiggling his hinny as he walks up stairs, and Hemi just can’t resist to put those claws out to dig into that hind end. Oh the commotion that follows. :)

Unfortunately, he has tested FIV positive so he must go to a home as a single cat, a home with non-aggressive cat(s) or a home with other cat(s) who are FIV positive as well. He gets along well with other cats.

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) facts to consider -
• FIV behaves similarly in a cat's body to the way HIV (AIDS) behaves in a human body. FIV is not contagious to humans or other species.

• FIV is contagious to other cats, but difficult to transmit - FIV is transmitted primarily through deep bite wounds resulting from fighting or rough play.

• The good news about FIV is that symptoms may never appear or may not appear for years. That means many FIV-positive cats can have a normal life span.

• Providing a home to a healthy FIV-positive cat is just like owning a healthy non-positive cat, with the exception of being extra sensitive to symptoms of illness. The cat simply stays strictly indoors and preferably has no contact with non-positive cats - although introducing another FIV-positive cat would be fine. A good diet, lots of love and attention - and the cat's all set. Remember, the primary means of transmission are through bite wounds resulting from fighting and rough play.

Please pass on this information about Hemi to anyone you know that may be interested in him. He truly is unique in his personality and looks. There must be someone out there that understands FIV or has a home with no other cats and is looking to add a really great cat to their family.