“I really couldn’t believe what I was seeing.”
A few months ago, animal lover Delaney Henderson agreed to foster a cat named Toby. From the moment he arrived, his affectionate personality made a wonderful first impression.
But it wasn’t long before Henderson noticed something else that made Toby truly extraordinary.
As she looked at his paws, she realized he had an astonishing number of toes.
An Extremely Rare Case of Polydactylism
Toby has polydactylism, a harmless genetic trait that causes cats to be born with extra toes.
Henderson was already familiar with the condition because she owns another polydactyl cat named Connie. However, after counting Toby’s toes, even she was amazed by what she found.
A typical cat has 18 toes, while most polydactyl cats have around 20 due to one extra toe on each front paw.
Toby, however, had seven toes on each paw, giving him an incredible total of 28 toes.
“When I first saw his toes, I really couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” Henderson said in a Guinness World Records Instagram post.
A Foster Who Was Meant to Stay
Interestingly, Toby’s foster profile never mentioned his unusual paws. To Henderson, it felt like fate had brought him into her home.
She also believed it was meant to be because Toby instantly connected with Connie, her other polydactyl cat.
Before long, Henderson realized she could never let him go.
“I had a gut feeling when I met him that he was meant to be in my life, and I am so grateful to have given him a forever home,” she said.
Connie Welcomes Her New Little Brother
Sharing their rare condition seemed to bring the two cats together immediately.
Connie quickly embraced the role of big sister, helping Toby settle into his new surroundings and making him feel at home.
The pair became close companions, proving that Toby had found exactly where he belonged.
Toby Earns a Place in the Record Books
Wanting to share Toby’s remarkable story, Henderson submitted his information to Guinness World Records.
It didn’t take long for the organization to respond with exciting news.
After reviewing his case, Guinness confirmed that Toby had tied the world record for the cat with the most toes. He even received an official Guinness World Records certificate recognizing the achievement.
Extra Toes Don’t Slow Him Down
Despite having far more toes than most cats, Toby lives a completely normal and active life.
He climbs cat trees, jumps around the house, plays, and curls up on the couch without any discomfort.
“He is in great health, and beyond a thorough nail trimming — he has 30 claws as well! — he is a regular kitty with no extra concerns,” Henderson said.
His unique paws simply mean he has a few more claws to keep trimmed than the average cat.
More Than a World Record Holder
Although Toby’s extraordinary feet have earned worldwide attention, Henderson says that’s not what makes him so special.
To her, he’s simply a funny, affectionate, and playful cat who brings joy to everyone around him.
“We love our sweet boy,” Henderson said.
While Toby’s record-breaking paws may catch people’s attention, it’s his lovable personality that truly makes him one of a kind.