Roughly half of the cats at the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum have polydactyly, a genetic trait causing extra toes on their paws.

History

The cats descend from Snow White, a six-toed gift from a sea captain to Ernest Hemingway in the 1930s. Hemingway allowed her offspring to roam the property, leading to a colony where polydactyly persists. All cats carry the dominant gene, though only about half show the physical extra toes, often resembling mittens on their front paws.

Current Population

The museum in Key West houses around 50-60 cats, with roughly half exhibiting the trait of six or more toes per paw. Normal cats have five front and four back toes, but these polydactyl felines add unique charm to the site. Visitors see them lounging freely, highlighting their historical role.