A polydactyl cat stands out from regular cats due to a unique feature: An extra toe.
An average cat has five toes on their front paws and four on their back paws, while a polydactyl cat has six or even more toes on each paw.
The polydactyl gene is dominant, meaning that a mother cat is likely to pass it to her offspring.
I’m sure many of you will find this feline feature interesting. While polydactyly is a genetic mutation, these extra toes are usually functional and can even be helpful for balancing, climbing, and capture prey.
I also believe you would like to know how much is a polydactyl cat worth. Let’s find out this information and see whether it’s challenging to find a cat with an extra toe.
What Does A Polydactyl Cat Cost?
Polydactyl cats aren’t so rare and this trait can be seen in small and large cats, both in males and females.
Therefore, it isn’t so easy to tell the average cost for these felines. Moreover, there’s a difference between buying and adopting a cat.
Adopting a polydactyl cat from a shelter can cost you $200 on average, while buying is a whole other story.
There are three main factors that can determine the price of a polydactyl cat from a breeder. Let’s look at them.
1. A Cat’s Breed
A cat’s price can differ significantly depending on their breed.
For instance, on one side there are cheap breeds that can cost you as low as $250. On the other hand, there are Maine Coons, one of the most popular domestic cats.
These large cats can cost as much as $3000 or $4000, if we’re talking about perfect bloodlines and pedigrees.
Maine Coons are often referenced in this context because many of them are polydactyl. A Maine Coon with an extra toe will be a lot more expensive than a polydactyl Manx cat, for example.
2. A Cat’s Age
Young kittens are always more expensive than older cats – this is also the case with polydactyl cats.
Senior cats are more likely to develop different health conditions that, in the long term, can mean a lot of money for veterinary assistance and medications.
However, if you’re looking for a polydactyl cat exclusively, expect to pay a lot more money for a newborn kitten than for an elderly cat.
While a newborn purebred polydactyl kitten can cost even up to a couple of hundred dollars, there’s a chance you’ll find an elderly polydactyl cat for $500 or $600.
3. Coat Color
There are some beliefs that a cat’s personality is directly related to their coat coloring. You may or may not take this seriously, but one thing is definitely true with a cat’s fur coloring: It dictates its price to a large extent.
A polydactyl cat with a brown, black, or calico coat will usually be cheaper than a cat with extra toes in rare colors like lilac or cinnamon.
For instance, the price for a polydactyl Maine Coon with some common coat color can go from $500 to $2500.
If you come across a polydactyl Maine Coon with a rare coat color, such as the “lynx” pattern, you can expect to pay even up to $3500.
Are Polydactyl Cats Hard To Find?
Except for the extra toe (or more than one!), there is really nothing else different about polydactyl felines.
However, this feature makes them appealing and interesting for many cat fanciers. According to the Spruce Pets, polydactyl cats were historically believed to bring good luck, especially among sailors embarking on long sea voyages.
Legend has it that polydactyl cats used their broad, large paws to keep ships free of vermin and to maintain balance on tumultuous seas.
They sure are cats with interesting myths related to them, but, how challenging is it to find a polydactyl cat nowadays?
Actually, these felines aren’t rare at all. Sheila L Curtis and Lucinda King [1] explain how polydactyly is a simple autosomal dominant trait with variable expression, meaning that a cat needs only one copy of the gene to express this trait.
There are even some breeders nowadays that specialize in breeding polydactyl kittens.
Therefore, finding a polydactyl cat shouldn’t be too challenging.
Are There Some Health Conditions Typical For Polydactyl Cats?
When you decide to have a cat, there are some important factors to consider. One of them is, of course, potential health conditions that a cat could develop.
Together with a quality of life quality, medical conditions can also cost a lot, meaning that some veterinary expenses could arise that you should be prepared for.
For the most part, taking care of a polydactyl cat is the same as for any other domestic cat. However, there are some important things to emphasize here.
As The Vets point out, there is a chance that the extra toes in polydactyl cats may not fully develop or might be floppy. This causes a polydactyl cat to bump into things and suffer from torn claws.
Special attention with these cats should be given to nail care since they’re at a higher risk for nail overgrowth. This isn’t only uncomfortable for a cat, but can also lead to an infection.
A polydactyl cat will usually be as mobile and active as any ordinary cat. Still, if a cat seems to have trouble running, walking, or jumping, a veterinarian should examine it.
If the veterinarian determines that the extra toe is disturbing a cat’s balance and walking, there is a possibility of surgical removal.
Final Thoughts
There isn’t a single answer to the question: How much is a polydactyl cat worth?
The price varies depending on whether you’re opting to adopt or buying. Adopting can cost you a couple of hundred dollars, while buying a purebred polydactyl cat can go as high as a couple of thousand dollars.
The price of buying depends on factors such as a cat’s breed, age, and coat coloring.
When it comes to the care costs, polydactyl cats aren’t much different from regular cats. However, it’s good to know that they may struggle with issues like overgrown nails.
In some situations, this problem could require surgical intervention, meaning that this is a financial aspect you should take into consideration.
References:
[1] Sheila L Curtis, Indys, & Lucinda King BA (Hons), Handaros. Sheila L Curtis, Indys, & Lucinda King BA (Hons), Handaros. 17th January 2007. DOI, Retrieved January 31, 2024.
