Posted 11/21/2008.
Have you ever heard of Polydactyl Cats? This are unusual kitties who have more than the usual number of toes. In Gloucestershire, England these cats are more common than other places because the sailors in the area thought they were lucky. Gloucetershire is England’s most inland port
It’s not uncommon to find cats in this area with one or two extra toes, but even the volunteers at the Stroud Cats Protection group in Gloucestershire have noticed the unusually large feet of Coco the Cat. She has unusually large feet because she’s got a whopping 26 toes. Most cats have only 18 toes, with four regular toes on each paw and a couple of dew claws on the front feet. However, Coco has four normal claws, one dew claw with three claws in the pads on her front feet and five claws on the back and one extra dew claw.
This cat was found by a local citizen who was concerned for her welfare, she was then given to the Stroud Cats Protection group. Susie Jones, the events and sponsorship officer stated, ‘'She's got massive feet, but she's absolutely gorgeous and craving affection…We took in a kitten some weeks back who was a polydactyl, but that one only had two extra toes, so this is very unusual.'
Most Polydactyl Cats are Marsh Cats, but Coco isn’t of the Marsh Cat variety and that makes it likely her extra claws are the result of breeding. Coco must have belonged to someone prior to being found because she is about 8 years old and in good health otherwise.
The volunteer who is currently acting as a foster parent for Coco, Liz Dart in Nailsworth has stated, “Cats with extra claws are not all that unusual, particularly in Gloucestershire…But I have never seen one with this many claws before.'
Source: http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?26-toed_cat_seeks_new_home&in_article_id=413680&in_page_id=2