[towntravis]

My mother’s calico cat is having kittens today, fathered by a stray polydactyl or “Hemingway” tabby-colored cat. Ironically, last year I wrote an article for Sci Q magazine about the history and nature of polydactyls.

The litter so far:

1. Mojo – Orange and white kitten with the normal number of toes on all but its left front foot. That foot has one extra toe. I didn’t know polydactyly could occur that way. Very strange. extra toes on both front feet, normal number on back feet (the extra toe on the right front foot wasn’t immediately visible).
2. Ernest – Black (or tabby; it’s hard to tell when they are newborn and covered with blood) Tabby with extra toes on both front feet. Normal number on back feet.
3. Prometheus – Black (or tabby) Tabby and white with extra toes on all four feet. (Pictured in close-up.)
4. Atropos – Another tabby and white with extra toes on all four feet. This one was born dead.
5. Safari – Last kitten, mostly orange with some white, extra toes on front feet only.