Rio and Rooney.....Two of a kind

by Jade, Dorset, UK

What is 8½ weeks old, and has 4 ears, 4 paws, 2 tails, 4 eyes, 2 noses and 47 toes??? Two polydactyl kittens of course!!!!

My partner and I moved in together 5 months ago, and although we love our little flat, it seemed so empty! We dreamed of having children, but knew we just weren't ready yet. I had thought about getting a couple of kittens, but as we aren't allowed them here, it was soon put to the back of my mind .... but it kept nagging at me.

Last weekend was our first anniversary of being together and we both turned to each other and said out loud "Sod the landlady, let's get our babies!" (I'm dead if she reads this!) So we ran to the local shop, bought a newspaper, and our hearts sank as we saw advert after advert for "Top dollar pedigree kittens" at hundreds of pounds apiece - we just couldn't afford that sort of money.

Just as we were giving up, I spotted a small ad for an unplanned litter. Perfect!! I called them and out of a litter of 13 (Yup, that is 13!!) there were just two left! We jumped in the car and drove across town to see them. We walked in and melted when we saw these two little bundles of joy and one exhausted mum!! The deal was done!

We got home, put the box on the floor, and watched in awe as two sets of very wide eyes slowly peered over the edge and bit by bit they made their way out to explore their new home. After an hour or two when they had settled in a bit, I decided to check them over to make sure they were ok.

Arrggghhh. "My babies are wrong ... they have too many toes!" I'm running around panicking, thinking of the pending vet bills and the operations these poor little things are going to need ....."Quick let's look this up" I thought, switching the computer on.

What a relief when I found that it is normal and there is even a name for my kittens. They are polydactyl cats. They have a genetic mutation causing them to grow extra toes. "Wow, my babies really are special" I'm thinking! Fortunately this rarely causes them problems and in fact can give them special talents. Rooney can walk across the room on his back legs and Rio can pick things up using her thumb just like we do! Rooney has 25 toes and Rio has 22. They are 8½ weeks old, but wow, have they got attitude!!!

Apparently Polydactyl cats are not only bigger and stockier than normal cats, but also have very dog-like personalities. So it came as no surprise when Rooney started playing tug-tug with a rope and growling like a dog!!!

Jade, Dorset, UK 2004

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