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Inherited traits are passed down through an animal's genetic code which is found in the animal's DNA—a long molecule that is present in every cell in the body. The DNA contains thousands of genes. A gene is a specific DNA sequence that leads to the expression of an inherited characteristic. For example, there are genes that determine eye color, coat color, and other body characteristics.

And while we're used to, for example, cats with 18 toes and puppies with 2 ears, sometimes an animal's genes decide to play a trick on us, and it comes to this world with more (or less!) of these features. Continue scrolling and take a look at this Bored Panda list, compiled to show you what genetic surprises some of our beloved creatures possess!

#1

Frankie Was Born With Four Ears And An Eye Deformity But He’s Still Purrfect

Frankie Was Born With Four Ears And An Eye Deformity But He’s Still Purrfect

Missy-Andry Report

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Boopie Dew
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe its just a way to make up for the lack of 1 eye, 2 extra ears!

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One of the most frequent congenital physical anomalies we see in this list is polydactylism, which causes animals to be born with more than the usual number of toes on one or more of their paws.

Interestingly, the condition seems to be especially common in cats along the East Coast of North America (in the United States and Canada and in South West England, Wales, and Kingston-upon-Hull.

Polydactyl cats have been extremely popular as ship's cats as well. Even though there is some controversy over the question of whether the most common variant of the trait originated as a mutation in New England or was brought there from Britain, there seems to be agreement that it spread widely as a result of cats carried on ships originating in Boston, Massachusetts, and the prevalence of polydactyly among the cat population of various ports correlates with the dates when they first established trade with Boston.

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    #2

    Cat Named Yoda Was Born With An Extra Set Of Ears

    Cat Named Yoda Was Born With An Extra Set Of Ears

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    Sailors have been known to value polydactyl cats especially for their extraordinary climbing and hunting abilities as an aid in controlling shipboard rodents. Some even thought they bring good luck at sea. The rarity of polydactyl cats in Europe might be explained by the fact that they were hunted and killed due to superstitions about witchcraft.

    The legendary Nobel Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway was an aficionado of polydactyl cats too. His love for these animals began after one ship captain gave him a six-toed cat he named Snow White.

    Upon Hemingway's death in 1961, his former home in Key West, Florida became a museum and a home for his cats, and at one point it housed approximately fifty descendants of his cats (about half of which were polydactyl). Because of his immense love for these animals, polydactyl cats are sometimes referred to as "Hemingway cats".

    "The things that make me different are the things that make me," one very special animal said. And the animals in these pics are very special too.

    #4

    I Adopted A Stray Dog With 2 Mouths, One Where The Ear Should Be

    I Adopted A Stray Dog With 2 Mouths, One Where The Ear Should Be

    Toad is about 6 years old, she found her way to the shelter that I worked at several years ago. The whole staff was kind of in shock at her appearance. She was also highly aggressive when she came in. A shelter officer muzzled her and carried her to the vet clinic and while she was there being examined, it sounds goofy but literally, we made eye contact and she immediately relaxed.

    That day I took her into my office to evaluate her and she immediately crawled into my lap. This big scary, insane-looking dog, just climbed into my lap and rested her head on my shoulder. I adopted her and we have been inseparable ever since.

    toadsearmouth Report

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    Rosa Rose
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't know, wouldn't it be better for him if it's closed up? It seems so easy to infect or something now?

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    #5

    My Sister Found This Adorable Guy With Extra Toes

    My Sister Found This Adorable Guy With Extra Toes

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    #6

    This Is Skadi, The Norwegian Lundehund Puppy

    This Is Skadi, The Norwegian Lundehund Puppy

    This is one of the oldest breeds in the world and is recovering from near-extinction - in 1963, only 6 remained. Now there are 1600. They are naturally polydactyl, can close their ears to water, and bend their heads back 180 degrees.

    twenafeesh Report

    #7

    This Unicorn Puppy Named Narwhal Was Found Abandoned With An Extra Tail On His Forehead

    This Unicorn Puppy Named Narwhal Was Found Abandoned With An Extra Tail On His Forehead

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    #8

    Too Many Peets

    Too Many Peets

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    Martine Remmelzwaal
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Omg those feet! I can't help but wonder if it is a case of over (in?) Breeding. I could be wrong but as far as I know those round curling backwards ears are not natural (unlike the no tail) and a trait specifically bred for.

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    #10

    Sansa Is A Special Needs Rescue Princess With Feline Hyperesthesia, Different Colored Eyes & More Toes Than You

    Sansa Is A Special Needs Rescue Princess With Feline Hyperesthesia, Different Colored Eyes & More Toes Than You

    sansa.thecat , sansa.thecat Report

    #11

    A Cat With An Opposable Thumb. I For One Welcome Our New Cat Overlords

    A Cat With An Opposable Thumb. I For One Welcome Our New Cat Overlords

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    #12

    Met This Cat Today With Two Tails

    Met This Cat Today With Two Tails

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    #13

    My Cat Is Polydactyl And Has 26 Toes. So I Named Him Toes

    My Cat Is Polydactyl And Has 26 Toes. So I Named Him Toes

    Papa-Wu Report

    #14

    Meet Phoebe, The Polydactyl Highland Lynx Complete With Curled Ears And A Bobtail

    Meet Phoebe, The Polydactyl Highland Lynx Complete With Curled Ears And A Bobtail

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    #15

    Doubled Fangs Of a kitten

    Doubled Fangs Of a kitten

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    #16

    Amelia And Her Two Faced Cat

    Amelia And Her Two Faced Cat

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    Rosa Rose
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wouw! I wonder how that works for the kitty. Can both heads eat and/or smell? Sooo many questions !

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    #17

    Got My Cat Wholesale And He Came With 75% Extra Beans

    Got My Cat Wholesale And He Came With 75% Extra Beans

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    Martine Remmelzwaal
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Can he like fold them inward like we do with our thumb? So fold his paw around something and grasp it?

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    #18

    This My Nugget At 2 Months Old And 1 Year Old. She's My Stunted Growth, Cross Eyed, Head Tilted, Polydactyl, Special Kitty

    This My Nugget At 2 Months Old And 1 Year Old. She's My Stunted Growth, Cross Eyed, Head Tilted, Polydactyl, Special Kitty

    Sikarum Report

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    Martine Remmelzwaal
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sweet expression :) kind hearted intelligent introvert. (Could be totally missing the mark but that is how she looks in the pic atleast)

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    #19

    Say Hi To Our New Kitten Maximillion! He's A Polydactyl Siamese

    Say Hi To Our New Kitten Maximillion! He's A Polydactyl Siamese

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    #20

    The Cat At Our Warehouse Gave Birth To A Kitten Who Has An Extra Tiny Paw That Functions As A Thumb

    The Cat At Our Warehouse Gave Birth To A Kitten Who Has An Extra Tiny Paw That Functions As A Thumb

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    Charlotte
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When you say it "functions as a thumb" what exactly are we talking about here? Can the kitten pick things up with one paw? Hold a pen? Hitch a lift? How is it with child-proof safety caps? To what extent do we need to start worrying about highly dexterous cats taking over the world?

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    #21

    Sleepy Polydactyl Kitten With An Extra 6 Toes

    Sleepy Polydactyl Kitten With An Extra 6 Toes

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    Martine Remmelzwaal
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Omg almost doesn't look real. Like bear feet or actually those slippers for warm feet you can get in weird designs.

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    #24

    Here Is My Rescue Baby

    Here Is My Rescue Baby

    SayianPrincess19 Report

    #25

    I Drove Over An Hour One Way To Pick Up My Purrito With Extra Beans From A Shelter In The Middle Of Nowhere. Meet Zula

    I Drove Over An Hour One Way To Pick Up My Purrito With Extra Beans From A Shelter In The Middle Of Nowhere. Meet Zula

    Daiiga Report

    #27

    My Polydactyl Kitty Stella

    My Polydactyl Kitty Stella

    jene-brooke Report

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    #29

    My Friend's Polydactyl Half-Lynx Kitten. Her Name Is Nimh

    My Friend's Polydactyl Half-Lynx Kitten. Her Name Is Nimh

    BaronVonDouchebag Report

    #30

    Our Little Ginger Polydactyl Kitten

    Our Little Ginger Polydactyl Kitten

    We rescued him and his calico sister from under a neighbour's deck when they were ~2.5 weeks old. We had to bottle feed them at first, and now they're eating machines. And super playful and healthy!

    StreetSpiritFO Report

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    Martine Remmelzwaal
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Haha he still has to learn how big his feet are, he is standing on his own paw

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    #31

    At Work Today We Literally Had A Mutant Cat Come Through... Extra Canine Tooth, Strongly Rooted

    At Work Today We Literally Had A Mutant Cat Come Through... Extra Canine Tooth, Strongly Rooted

    saintlindsay Report

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    Martine Remmelzwaal
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Kind of like a cyclops but different. Dentops? Or unident :) Is his nose unusual as well or is it the picture quality?

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    #32

    Leg Broken In 2 Places But Still Got Sexy Legs And Thumbs

    Leg Broken In 2 Places But Still Got Sexy Legs And Thumbs

    Pemigewasset Report

    #33

    Found A Kitty With Extra Beans At The Lake. Meet Pawla Abdul

    Found A Kitty With Extra Beans At The Lake. Meet Pawla Abdul

    unlimitedJUICE Report

    #34

    My Kitten Showing Off Her Polydactyl Toe Beans

    My Kitten Showing Off Her Polydactyl Toe Beans

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    #35

    Friend's Cat Has Black Chin, So It Always Looks Surprised. It's Also A Polydactyl And Had Thumbs

    Friend's Cat Has Black Chin, So It Always Looks Surprised. It's Also A Polydactyl And Had Thumbs

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    #36

    My New Love! She's A Polydactyl She Has 6 Toes On Each Foot! Any Names?

    My New Love! She's A Polydactyl She Has 6 Toes On Each Foot! Any Names?

    ladygargoyle Report

    #38

    This Is Migi, Our Polydactyl 6-Year-Old Cat

    This Is Migi, Our Polydactyl 6-Year-Old Cat

    Adopted another older, shy girl from the shelter. When we met her, she looked sad, wasn’t food motivated and poor girl still needs some dental work done.

    chomps44 Report

    #39

    Skippy’s Toes. He Was A Kitten I Fostered Last Year Who Had Radial Hypoplasia And A Lot Of Toes

    Skippy’s Toes. He Was A Kitten I Fostered Last Year Who Had Radial Hypoplasia And A Lot Of Toes

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    #40

    This Cat Has Both Heterochromia And Extra Toes

    This Cat Has Both Heterochromia And Extra Toes

    sansa.thecat Report

    Note: this post originally had 132 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.

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