Cat at Kentucky shelter has an astounding number of toes. How many is too many?
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Many fictional characters in film and literature are known for having polydactyly, which is when someone is born with extra fingers or toes: the count from “The Princess Bride,” Zigzag from “The Thief and the Cobbler” and — probably the most famous — Dr. Hannibal Lecter from “The Silence of the Lambs.”
While it can be considered unusual with humans, polydactyly also happens in other types of animals, including cats. And a cat in Kentucky is just one digit shy of the world record.
“Looking for a cat with 27 toes? Then Bindle’s your gal!” the Kentucky Humane Society in Louisville said in a Jan. 30 Facebook post. “Not only is Miss Bindle a big, squishy gal, she is also very sweet and loving. Her best feature, however, is her multitude of toe beans.”
Normally, a cat is born with 18 toes, with five toes on the front paws and four toes on the back. Bindle has, well, a little more than that.
“This gal boasts 27 toes, just shy of the world record of 28!” the shelter said.
According to the Guinness World Records, Paws, a cat in Minnesota, tied another cat for the record of most toe beans in 2018, CBS News reported. Jake, from Canada, initially set the record for a cat with the most toes in 2002, according to the Guinness World Records.
“It almost looks like a catcher’s mitt,” Paws’ owner Jeanne Martin told CBS.
Polydactyl cats are nicknamed Hemingway cats, thanks to author Ernest Hemingway and his undying love for cats — most of which had six toes. His home and museum in Key West still house many polydactyl kitties.
For more information on 4-year-old Bindle, visit her pet profile at the shelter’s website.
This story was originally published January 30, 2025 at 11:41 AM with the headline "Cat at Kentucky shelter has an astounding number of toes. How many is too many?."