Your guide to finding and caring for an Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl in Des Moines
An extra-toed cat fits Des Moines housing well, from Beaverdale's 1930s brick bungalows to the old Sherman Hill mansions split into apartments. These are ordinary domestic cats with bonus toes, so expect a climber who likes a sunny windowsill and bats toys around with those wide paws. The one routine chore is trimming the extra claws, which can curl into the paw pads. If you're adopting in Des Moines, plan on keeping the cat indoors, where a tall cat tree goes a long way.
Adopt a Polydactyl cat today
While we don't have enough cats near Des Moines, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
M, 2 mo., 820 miles
Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl, Domestic Short Hair
M, 3 mo., 887 miles
Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl
F, 1 y., 897 miles
Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl, Domestic Short Hair
M, 6 mo.-2 y., 949 miles
Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl, Tabby
F, 0-6 mo., 1061 miles
Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl
F, 0-6 mo., 1061 miles
Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl
F, 0-6 mo., 1061 miles
Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl
F, 0-6 mo., 1061 miles
Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl
F, 1 y., 1153 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl
F, 3 y., 1235 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl
An extra-toes cat isn't a breed. It's any cat born with polydactyly, a harmless genetic variation that adds toes to one or more paws. The trait is dominant, so one affected parent can pass it on. It's most common in New England and Atlantic Canada, where sailors prized big-pawed ship cats as mousers. The "Hemingway cat" nickname comes from Ernest Hemingway's six-toed cat, Snow White.
Most polydactyls in shelters are domestic shorthairs or longhairs, so size, coat and personality vary widely from cat to cat. Expect a medium-sized cat, usually 6 to 15 pounds, with moderate shedding that depends on coat length. A longhaired cat needs regular brushing, while a shorthair gets by on less. Whatever the coat, the extra claws should be checked and trimmed every few weeks.
Having an Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl in Des Moines
Extra toes don't decide personality or health. What matters most to a Des Moines adopter is the cat's age, coat and background, plus a little added attention to claw care and a plan for keeping an indoor cat busy through long winters.
Polydactyl cats run from bold and chatty to shy and slow to warm up, just like other domestic cats. Claims that they're friendlier or smarter are unproven. In a Des Moines apartment or bungalow, watch how a cat handles noise, visitors and new spaces, since that tells you more than toe count.
Plan on daily interactive play with wand toys, balls and puzzle feeders that mimic hunting. Many extra-toed cats climb well, so cat trees and window perches help. Because Des Moines has about 45 days a year when the high stays below freezing, indoor play matters most from December through February. Kittens and young adults usually want more than seniors.
The common form of polydactyly usually causes no health problems on its own. Extra claws may not wear down and can grow into the paw pads, so check and trim them regularly. A rare limb condition is sometimes mistaken for polydactyly, and a veterinarian can tell them apart. Dental disease, obesity and kidney disease are the usual feline concerns.
Extra-toed cats do well in apartments and houses. Give them vertical space, sturdy scratching posts that help keep extra claws in shape, hiding spots and clean litter boxes. Keep them indoors or in a secure enclosure, since coyotes live in Des Moines neighborhoods, and use sturdy window screens to prevent falls from upper floors.
| Expense | Typical cost | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Food | $25 to $50 per month | $300 to $600 |
| Pet insurance | $20 to $45 per month | $240 to $540 |
| Routine vet care | $150 to $350 per year | $150 to $350 |
| Other* | $465 to $1,165 per year | $465 to $1,165 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,155 to $2,655 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* Litter, the $15 Des Moines license for a spayed or neutered cat, flea prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys and scratching posts, and home grooming and claw trims.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have cats available in and near Des Moines.
Rescues and shelters in Des Moines place cats of all ages and coats, and some polydactyl cats can turn up among them. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Des Moines area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether an Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl is coming in.
Yes, Des Moines has no known rules that single out extra-toes cats. The city requires cats six months and older to be licensed, with a lower fee for spayed or neutered cats, and the license needs a current rabies vaccination certificate. Rentals may add their own pet rules, so confirm those before you sign a lease.
Yes, an extra-toes cat adapts well to an apartment in Des Moines as long as it has room to climb and play. Add a cat tree, window perch and sturdy scratching post, and keep screens secure on upper floors. Converted Victorians and newer downtown buildings both work, but get pet fees and monthly pet rent in writing.
Yes, indoor extra-toes cats handle Des Moines winters comfortably, since the cold is mainly a risk for cats that go outside. Winter here brings long freezing stretches and heavy snow, so keep the cat indoors, away from drafts, and add daily play sessions. If the cat walks on a harness, wipe its paws after salt exposure.
No, DART buses don't allow pets other than service animals, and there's no known exception for carriers. Des Moines has no subway, so plan trips to the vet by car. Use a secure carrier with a towel inside, and practice carrier time at home so the ride is less stressful.
An extra-toes cat suits Des Moines well if you can provide indoor enrichment through the long winters. These cats fit bungalows and apartments alike, and summers here are warm but not extreme. Think about your schedule, since young cats want daily play while seniors often settle for lap time. Toe count says little about personality, so meet the cat first.
A shorthaired extra-toes cat needs about a weekly brushing, while a longhaired one does better with several sessions a week. Trim the extra claws every few weeks, since they can curl into the paw pads. Most owners do both at home, which fits within the yearly Other costs of $465 to $1,165, though a longhaired cat may occasionally need a professional groom.
A cat normally has 18 toes: five on each front paw and four on each back paw. The fifth front toe is the dewclaw, set higher on the inside of the leg like a thumb, so it doesn't touch the ground when the cat walks. Polydactyl cats have more than 18, most often an extra one or two per front paw.
Cats don't have true thumbs. The dewclaw on each front paw sits in a similar position to a human thumb and helps a cat grip prey and climb, but it isn't opposable. Some polydactyl cats have extra toes on the inner side of the paw that look like a thumb, which is where the nickname thumb cat comes from.
A polydactyl cat is a cat born with more than the usual number of toes on one or more paws. It is a genetic trait, not a breed, and it can appear in any cat, though most are domestic shorthairs or longhairs. The common form is harmless and is passed down by a dominant gene.
Expect about $25 to $50 a month for food and $20 to $45 a month for insurance, plus $150 to $350 a year for routine vet care. Other yearly costs, including litter, flea prevention, dental care, supplies and the city license, run about $465 to $1,165. Adoption fees appear on the listings.
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