NO HEADLINE

Dear Heloise: My new kitten has 23 toes. His name is Baxter, and the seven toes on his front right paw and six toes on his left front paw are not considered unusual for a New England cat. The five toes on both hind paws are considered rare. – Cam Campbell, Derry, N.H.

Cam, the picture you sent shows that your kitty is one darling cat. Cats with extra toes are called polydactyl, and usually it is considered a fault in a breed and a genetic variation. Most of these cats have 18 toes – five on each front foot and four on the back – and the cats can have additional toes on the front and the back. They look like they are wearing big, furry mittens, and I think they look adorable.– Heloise