I think you're forgetting something, jenny

My mom and dad went to Key West a couple of years ago and told me about the crazy Hemingway cats. My mom told me they were "polydactyl," but she's an immigrant so I just thought she was asking for tea or a backscratch and hung up the phone. But here, straight from the Hemingway House web site, comes some explanation:

"About half of the cats at the museum are polydactyl, which means they have extra toes. Most cats have extra toes on their front feet and sometimes on their back feet as well. Sometimes it looks as if they are wearing mittens because they appear to have a thumb on their paw."

cute.


A snippet from their Q&A:

"Q. Are the extra toes (polydactylism) caused by inbreeding?

A. Yes they are, putting aside the possible negative connotations, close relationship is the strategy behind cat breeding programs which concentrate on a particular trait. "
congratulations, Hemingway house. Thank goodness you exist.