A MISCHIEVOUS tabby and white kitten with oversized paws is the latest from a family of unusual cats with more toes than normal to be homed by a Taunton cat charity.
Little Fingle, currently in the care of Cats Protection’s Taunton and Wellington branch, has a total of 20 distinct digits.
Cats usually have four digits and a dew claw on their front paws and four digits on each back paw, but Fingle has five pronounced digits, including one that looks just like a proper thumb, plus his dew claws on his front paws, and a further five digits on each back paw.
Fingle - picture from Cats Protection
While Fingle’s remarkable paws are an endearing surprise to most, he is the latest from a family of polydactyls to have been homed in recent months by the charity’s volunteer-run branch.
Fingle has inherited his ‘pawsome’ trait from his polydactyl father Tiger and uncle Bowie, who have both settled into new homes.
Tiger - picture Cats Protection
Fingle’s heavily pregnant mother Mia arrived at the branch along with his three siblings after their owner became unable to cope.
Bowie - picture Cats Protection
Fingle was born on February 4, his brothers Furze and Puggle arrived the following day and they were joined by their sister Ingra on February 5.
Branch co-ordinator Ann Manners said: "Fingle is the only polydactyl in the litter. He is bigger than his siblings, and has been first to achieve most things, although walking was more by luck than judgement as he got his paws in the wrong order.
“Due to his extra toes, Fingle is very good at climbing up their tall scratching post - and back down again. We just need to be careful about his bedding, as he gets his claws well and truly stuck in towels, so needs to have a soft fleece blanket.
“The kittens all spend time stalking one another, followed by an airborne ambush and kitten play.
"They're like lambs, jumping in the air and racing around for no apparent reason. And then they crash into deepest sleep. They have a remarkable ability to sleep through any disturbance.
Ann and husband David, who have been with Cats Protection for 35 years, first took in a polydactyl cat in the 1990s - Murphy had 26 toes.
Although not common, polydactyl cats can be found across the UK. It is a genetic condition that rarely causes any harm to the cat. Some polydactyl cats can have up to three extra digits on each foot.
Ann saids: “Fingle and his siblings are truly gorgeous but he and his family all arrived in care because none of his relatives were neutered.
"There was in-breeding between the cats because like so many people, his previous owners didn’t realise that not only can female cats become pregnant as young as four months old, but that unneutered family members will mate.
"The numbers simply got out of control. We’d invite anyone who is struggling to afford to get their cat neutered to reach out to us as in many occasions we can help.”
Fingle, his siblings and mother have all been reserved and will go to their new homes once they are neutered.
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