Originally posted by rosethecopycat
From what I have researched, polydactylism comes from one of two possible sources in the U.S. Either this cat is a distant relation to Ernest Hemmingway's cats in Key West Florida...or this cat could be a decendent from a cat brought over on the mayflower (or similar ship of that time).

Anyone out there care to add to or refute this? I am still curious about these 'little big paws'
She would have to be a very distant relative of either of those. I live way up in boonies. Our humane society director believes we have a very active polydactal siamese tom in town. We see a large number of poly meezer mixes at the shelter. My Polly Paws is polydactal on all four paws, but other than one claw that was badly deformed she has no problems (an attitude problem sometimes, but i don't think that's related ) My vet has said that the more paws that have extra claws, the higher the incident of troubles.