100+ Names for Polydactyl Cats 

Got a kitty with more than 18 toes? Then you have a polydactyl cat! Meaning “many digits” in Greek, polydactyl cats have an extra number of toes that can range from two to ten. If you find yourself with a cat that has more toes to love, you might be wondering what to name such a unique kitty. We’ve rounded up the top names for polydactyl cats to help you find the best fit for your feline companion.

Polydactyl cats have an interesting history and mythology. Sailors considered them lucky for their perceived ability to balance better, while others associated extra toes negatively and as a sign of being a witch’s familiar. Ernest Hemingway famously adored and cared for polydactyl cats, starting with Snow White, who was gifted to him by a local mariner friend. Another famous fan of polydactyls? President Theodore Roosevelt, whose tabby Slippers even crashed a White House dinner.

Jake the ginger cat holds the Guinness World Record for most toes (28), but he’s not the only famous polydactyl. Before her passing, the adorable internet sensation, Lil Bub, had unique physical traits, including polydactyly, that drew fans to her and helped raise funds for kitties.

Read on for more name ideas for that special extra-toed kitty in your life.

Top 20 Names for a Polydactyl Cat

Below are some popular names for cats rockin’ extra digits. Some come from famous cats, while others are just darn cute.

1. Six, Seven, etc. based on the number of your cat’s extra toes
2. Mittens
3. Snowball (after the cat that first inspired Hemingway’s love of polydactyls and what prompted his friend to gift him Snow White)
4. Slippers (after President Theodore Roosevelt’s polydactyl)
5. Thumbs
6. Digits
7. Beans
8. Lucky
9. Bigfoot
10. Claws
11. Knuckles
12. Boxer (“boxing cats” is another term for polydactyls)
13. Tiptoe
14. Magic
15. Pinky
16. Dewclaw (the term for the cat’s “thumb” on its paw)
17. Footloose
18. Mouser (sailors believed the extra toes made polydactyls better mouse hunters)
19. Catch
20. Serendipity (after all, extra toes are a happy accident)

20 Female Names for a Polydactyl Cat

Here are 20 popular names for cats that work well for female cats.

1. Snow White (after Hemingway’s first polydactyl)
2. Petals (for that extra “petal” or pad)
3. Thumbelina
4. Polly (i.e. “poly”)
5. Jinx (name for witches’ familiar)
6. Wednesday
7. Hugs
8. Dottie (see “Petals”)
9. Eleven (as in “Stranger Things“—perfect for cats with an extra toe in front!)
10. Tiny Dancer
11. Sabrina (as in the famous teenage witch)
12. Blossoms
13. Kiki (as in “Kiki’s Delivery Service“)
14. Ebony (from the Marvel Universe who can transform into a black panther)
15. Octavia (good for cats with 8 toes)
16. Clover (an extra leaf is good luck!)
17. Rosebud (see “Petals”)
18. Ring (as in finger)
19. Twinkles (as in toes)
20. Fortuna (Roman goddess of fortune)

20 Male Names for a Polydactyl Cat

These are 20 popular names that work great for male cats.

1. Hemingway
2. Jake (after the record-breaking polydactyl)
3. Captain (referring to their fondness by mariners)
4. Sailor
5. Tom Thumb
6. Buddy
7. Dactyl (Greek mythological male beings)
8. Salem (referencing a witch’s familiar and the famous cat from Sabrina, the Teenage Witch)
9. Binx (the boy-turned-cat in Hocus Pocus)
10. Crookshanks (Hermione’s cat familiar in the Harry Potter series)
11. Hunter (referring to their hunting abilities)
12. Catcher (see above)
13. Bear
14. Sasquatch
15. Sausages (as in fingers)
16. Chauncey (meaning “fortune”)
17. Fisher
18. Ernest (as in Hemingway)
19. First Mate
20. Mitt

Toe-Related Names for a Polydactyl Cat

These top toe names are adorable—and plenty are funny, to boot!

1. Boots
2. Toeny Tiger
3. Footsie
4. Socks
5. Twinkletoes
6. Tootsie
7. Toebias
8. Tippytoes
9. Stevie Knucks
10. Toe Jam
11. Toeny Hawk
12. Stubs
13. Shuffles
14. Dippers
15. Scratches

Names for Cats with Unique Paws

Since your cat’s paws are unique, why not pick a name that’s more uncommon but highlights their special toes.

1. Dexterity
2. Pointer
3. Gáta (Greek for “cat”)
4. Seis, Sees, Sei (“six” in Spanish, French, Italian)
5. Siete, Sept, Sette (“seven” in Spanish, French, Italian)
6. Ocho, Huit, Otto (“eight” in Spanish, French, Italian)
7. Maneki Neko (fortune cats in Japan)
8. Quirk
9. Index (as in finger)
10. Extra

Names for Cats that Mean “Rare”

Your kitty’s many toes are rare and also quite lucky! Here are some go-to names that reflect just how one-of-a-kind your cat is.

1. Chance
2. Changeling
3. Charm
4. Blessing
5. Tailor (after all, your cat’s shape is one-of-a-kind!)
6. Destiny
7. Felix (meaning “lucky”)
8. Southpaw
9. Angus (of Celtic origin meaning “the one choice”)
10. Treasure

Takeaway

There are so many ways to pick a cat name, so be sure to take your time and pick what feels right! Even though you may want to choose a name that honors your cat’s unique toes, your kitty may also have lots of other qualities that can help inspire a great name, too.

Perhaps your cat’s fur color, such as black or gray might guide your choice with names like Midnight or Smokey. Or, if you’re a movie buff, consider a name like Pyewacket or Simba. If a certain name in another language has meaning to you, like Le Chat Noir, go with that.

You’ll find plenty of name ideas in our cat name database to suit your favorite cat.

Further Reading

• Clever Cat Names for Your New Kitty
• What Are Cat Toe Beans? 8 Facts About Your Cat’s Feet