Your guide to finding and caring for an Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl in Minneapolis
An Extra-Toes Cat suits a Minneapolis apartment well, since most of the work is play and a quick nail trim. Extra toes are a quirk, not a personality, so each cat's temperament is its own. In a Powderhorn Park brick walk-up or a Kingfield bungalow, these big-pawed cats are happy with a window perch, a tall scratching post and a daily game with a wand toy. Long winters keep most Minneapolis cats indoors anyway.
Adopt a Polydactyl cat today
While we don't have enough cats near Minneapolis, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
M, 0-6 mo., 1543 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl
M, 0-6 mo., 1557 miles
Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl, Tabby
F, 1 y., 1569 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl
M, 3 mo., 1588 miles
Domestic Long Hair, Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl
F, 2 mo., 2452 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl
F, 2 mo., 2452 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl
F, 2 mo., 2452 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl
The Extra-Toes Cat, or Hemingway Polydactyl, isn't a breed but a trait: polydactyly, a harmless genetic variation that gives a cat extra digits, often on the front paws. The gene is dominant, so one affected parent can pass it on. It's especially common in New England and Atlantic Canada, where ship cats were prized as mousers. The Hemingway nickname comes from Ernest Hemingway's six-toed cat, Snow White.
Most extra-toed cats are domestic shorthairs or longhairs, so size, coat and personality vary widely, usually from about 6 to 15 pounds. The one steady care difference is claw trimming, because extra claws can curl into the paw pads. Minneapolis homes are heated for months, so indoor claw care and play matter year-round. A cat's age and energy will tell you more about daily life than the toe count.
Having an Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl in Minneapolis
Extra toes give these cats distinctive, oversized paws, but they don't set personality or health. In Minneapolis, expect an indoor cat that needs daily play, regular claw checks and a cozy spot away from winter drafts.
Extra-toed cats range from bold and chatty to shy and slow to warm up, just like any domestic cat. Toes don't predict friendliness. For apartment life in Minneapolis, a cat's age, past experience and energy level matter more, so read each listing's details and pick a cat whose pace matches your household.
Plan on daily interactive play with wand toys, balls and puzzle feeders, ideally in a couple of short sessions. Many of these cats are agile climbers, so cat trees and window perches add exercise. During long Minneapolis winters, when cats stay in, regular play prevents boredom and weight gain. Kittens and young adults usually want more than seniors.
The common form of polydactyly usually causes no problems on its own. Extra claws may not wear down and can curl into the paw pads, so check paws and trim regularly. A rare, unrelated limb condition is sometimes mistaken for it, and a veterinarian can sort that out. Dental disease, obesity and kidney disease are the usual feline concerns.
These cats adapt to Minneapolis apartments and older houses alike. Give them vertical space, sturdy scratching posts, hiding spots and clean litter boxes. Indoor living or a secure enclosure is safest, since coyotes are increasing in the Twin Cities metro area and can kill cats. Window screens 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* | $480 to $1,180 per year | $480 to $1,180 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,170 to $2,670 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* Litter, the $30 Minneapolis license for a spayed or neutered cat, flea and tick prevention, a yearly 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 Minneapolis.
Minneapolis has a city shelter and rescue groups, and extra-toed cats can turn up among their domestic shorthairs and longhairs. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Minneapolis area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether an Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl is coming in.
212 17th Avenue North, Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Yes. Minneapolis has no breed-specific rules for cats, and extra toes are just a trait. Cats over four months old need a city license, and a current rabies vaccination is required to get one. Owning four or more cats requires a multiple-animal permit and a home inspection, so most households keep three or fewer.
Yes, extra-toed cats adapt well to apartments as long as they have vertical space, a sturdy scratching post and daily play. Many Minneapolis renters need landlord approval, so confirm pet terms in writing first. Keep window screens secure on upper floors, and trim claws regularly so extra nails don't catch on carpet or curl into paw pads.
Yes, as indoor cats they handle it well. Extra toes don't make a cat cold-proof, though, so skip unsupervised outdoor time when temperatures drop below freezing. Offer a sunny window perch, a draft-free bed and extra play on snowbound days. If a cat walks outside on a harness, wipe its paws afterward to remove road salt.
Yes, but only in a carrier. Minneapolis has no subway; Metro Transit runs buses and light rail, and pets can board only in a carrier. Leashed pets aren't allowed to board. Use a secure, covered carrier that fits on your lap or at your feet, and keep trips short to limit stress.
Often, for people who can offer daily play and keep the cat indoors. Long winters mean plenty of indoor time, and coyotes in the metro area make enclosed or supervised outdoor time safer. A wand-toy session and a window perch go a long way. Since temperament varies, judge each cat by age and energy rather than toe count.
Check and trim claws every few weeks, since extra claws can curl into the paw pads, and brush weekly or more for longer coats. Shedding is moderate and varies with coat. Grooming is mostly home care, so it fits within the yearly Other costs of about $480–$1,180 listed above.
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–$50 a month for food, $20–$45 a month for pet insurance, $150–$350 a year for routine vet care, and $480–$1,180 a year for everything else, including litter, the city license and flea prevention. Costs vary with the cat's size, coat and age.
Expand your search to find Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyls available for adoption near Minneapolis.
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