Double mutant cat 54 toes

Four-month-old Fred and Ned cats living in the Cat Sponsor Center in Gosport, Hampshire (England) became famous thanks to 54 toes on 8 feet.

Fred and Ned have had a toe injury. Normally, a cat has 18 toes (4 fingers on 2 hind feet and 5 fingers on 2 paws), Fred has 28 fingers and Ned has 26 fingers.

Fred (left) and Ned (right) are currently being cared for
Cat Sponsor Center in Gosport, Hampshire (England)

Kate Stapleford - an employee at the Cat Sponsor Center said: 'When taken to the center, the health of Fred and Ned cats is in very bad condition, but thanks to the care of the doctors. Veterinary, Fred and Ned's health is progressing very well.

They can play and grasp toys like normal cats, but their climbing ability is quite poor. '

Especially, in 40 years of working at veterinary centers, Mr. Kate Stapleford has never witnessed two such special cats. While Fred had left his fingers on his hind feet, Ned had left his fingers on his front feet.

If only observing with the naked eye, the appearance of Fred and Ned cats is not much different from those of other developed cats.

Finger growth is caused by genetic mutations and does not affect the health of animals. For cats, there are those who only have excess fingers on one foot, but there are those who have 2 to 3 fingers on each foot.

Close-up of the feet of two cats

If cats suffer from excessive birth defects, the likelihood of their children being inherited is quite high.