Your guide to finding and caring for an Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl in Parkersburg
An extra-toed cat fits Parkersburg's older neighborhoods well, since a sunny window and a tall scratching post cover most of what it needs. In Julia-Ann Square or on Quincy Hill, a front window over the sidewalk gives a curious cat plenty to watch. Their big paws can make them skilled toy-batters, though personalities vary as much as in any cat. Most do fine indoors, so a downtown apartment works as well as a house in Granada Hills.
Adopt a Polydactyl cat today
While we don't have enough cats near Parkersburg, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
M, 6 mo.-2 y., 401 miles
Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl, Domestic Short Hair
M, 6 mo.-2 y., 401 miles
Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl, Domestic Short Hair
M, 3 mo., 404 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl
M, 3 mo., 404 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl
M, 3 mo., 404 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl
F, 0-6 mo., 405 miles
Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl
M, 3-7 y., 407 miles
Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl
F, 7 y., 408 miles
Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl
M, 2 y., 409 miles
Tabby, Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl
M, 3-7 y., 410 miles
Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl
An extra-toes cat isn't a breed but any cat born with polydactyly, a harmless genetic variation that adds toes to one or more paws. A typical cat has 18 toes, while polydactyls often have six or seven on a front paw, sometimes forming a mitten-like thumb. The trait is dominant, so one affected parent can pass it to roughly half of a litter.
The Hemingway nickname comes from Ernest Hemingway, who was given a six-toed cat named Snow White. Most extra-toed cats in shelters are domestic shorthairs or longhairs, and their personalities are as varied as any cat's. The main care difference is claw trimming, since extra claws can curl into the paw pads. In Parkersburg, that routine fits easily into an indoor home.
Having an Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl in Parkersburg
Extra toes give these cats charming, oversized paws, but they don't decide personality or health. What matters most is each cat's age, coat and history, plus a little added attention to claw care at home.
Polydactyl cats range from bold, chatty companions to shy cats who warm up slowly, just like other domestic cats. Stories that they're friendlier or smarter are charming but unproven. Some use their big paws with surprising dexterity, batting toys or scooping food. In a Parkersburg home, expect a personality shaped by the cat, not the toes.
Most extra-toed cats enjoy daily interactive play with wand toys, balls and puzzle feeders that mimic hunting. Many are agile climbers, so a cat tree by a window suits long Ohio Valley winter days indoors. Kittens and young adults usually want more play than seniors, and regular activity helps prevent boredom and weight gain.
The common form of polydactyly usually causes no health problems on its own. Extra claws may not wear down naturally and can grow into the paw pads, so regular checks and trims matter. A rare, unrelated limb condition is sometimes mistaken for polydactyly, so a vet visit after adoption is worthwhile. Otherwise these cats share typical feline concerns like dental disease, obesity and kidney disease.
Extra-toed cats adapt to apartments or houses like any domestic cat. They appreciate vertical space, sturdy scratching posts that help keep extra claws in shape, hiding spots and clean litter boxes. Whether you live in an older Parkersburg home or a small rental, indoor living protects them from traffic, and 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* | $450 to $1,150 per year | $450 to $1,150 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,140 to $2,640 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* Litter, 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 currently have Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyls available.
The Humane Society of Parkersburg is the area's main animal shelter, and the rescues and shelters below list cats looking for homes. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Parkersburg area where you can find Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyls and other cats available for adoption.
Yes, you can adopt an Extra-Toes Cat in Parkersburg. There is no known city breed ban, and polydactyly isn't a regulated trait. West Virginia requires rabies vaccination for cats, usually by about six months of age. There is no known local cat license, though renters should get their landlord's pet approval in writing first.
Yes, an Extra-Toes Cat can live happily in a Parkersburg apartment. About a third of households here rent, and these cats adapt to small spaces when they have vertical perches, a sturdy scratching post and daily play. Landlords set their own pet policies, so get approval, deposit and pet fee terms in writing.
Yes, indoor Extra-Toes Cats handle Parkersburg winters easily. Winters bring about 105 nights at or below freezing and roughly 11 inches of snow a year. Offer a warm bed away from drafts, keep up daily play, and wipe paws after any outdoor time to remove road salt and ice melt.
Parkersburg has local bus service through the Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority, known as Easy Rider, but no subway. Check the current cat rules before riding, including the posted pet policy. Service animals are allowed under federal law. If pets in carriers are permitted, a secure, ventilated carrier is the safest way to travel.
Most need weekly brushing, more during spring shedding, plus claw trims every few weeks since extra claws can curl into paw pads. Dry indoor heat in winter can make coats flaky, so brush and offer water. Home grooming is typically covered by the yearly Other costs, roughly $450 to $1,150 including litter and supplies.
Often, yes. Parkersburg's mix of older homes, apartments and modest rents suits a cat that's content indoors. Four seasons mean you'll lean on indoor play and climbing, especially in winter. Since toes don't predict personality, look at each cat's age, energy and coat, and whether your daily routine leaves enough time for play.
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.
We have 1 rescue with Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyls available: Humane Society of Parkersburg. You can see every rescue with Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyls available in the list above these questions, or scroll to the top to see the Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyls near Parkersburg.
Plan on roughly $1,140 to $2,640 a year for an extra-toed cat in Parkersburg. That covers food at $25 to $50 a month, insurance at $20 to $45 a month, routine vet care at $150 to $350 a year, and other costs at $450 to $1,150 a year. The adoption fee is separate and shown on the listings.
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