Watch: Wisconsin cat born with record-breaking 29 toes
Watch Wisconsin cat born with an astonishing 29 toes earn a Guinness World Record. Erebus Anomaly, a Maine coon owned by Wisconsin breeders Kendra Vandenbloomer and Hunter Nett, has 11 more toes than a typical domestic cat. His polydactyly tops the prior mark of 28 toes, held since 2002.
Key Takeaways
- Erebus Anomaly, a Wisconsin Maine coon, holds the Guinness World Record for most toes on a cat at 29.
- That total is 11 more than the usual number for a domestic feline.
- Polydactyly is common in Maine coons, but Erebus's count is the largest ever documented.
- The previous record of 28 toes was set by Jake in Canada in 2002 and later tied by Toby in Michigan.
- Owners Kendra Vandenbloomer and Hunter Nett of Blue Northern Maine Coons suspected a record at birth.
How many toes does the Wisconsin record cat have?
Fans who watch Wisconsin cat born stories for viral pet moments got a certified winner this time. Erebus Anomaly was counted at 29 toes and earned the Guinness World Record for the most toes on a cat, UPI reports.
A typical domesticated feline has 18 toes. Erebus has 11 more than that standard count, turning an already unusual genetic trait into a global headline.
Guinness verified the digit total after the Wisconsin Maine coon stepped into contention for the title. The feat is rare even among cats known for extra toes.
Why does this Maine coon have so many toes?
Polydactyly is the genetic trait that causes some cats to be born with extra toes. It is commonly found in Maine coons, the breed Erebus belongs to.
Even so, his number of toes is the largest ever documented. That gap between "common in the breed" and "record-breaking" is why the story spread beyond local pet circles.
Vandenbloomer and Nett, who own the Blue Northern Maine Coons breeding business, said they immediately suspected they might have a record-breaking feline when Erebus was born. Their early hunch matched what Guinness later confirmed.
Who held the most-toes cat record before Erebus?
The previous record of 28 toes was set by a Canadian pet named Jake in 2002. A Michigan family's kitten, named Toby, tied that mark earlier this year.
Erebus moved the bar to 29, giving Wisconsin the new crown in one of the stranger corners of animal records. For more odd animal headlines, browse our Bizarre News & Florida Man coverage.
Credible oddities like this one still matter online because they are easy to verify and hard to forget. A Wisconsin cat born with 29 toes is exactly the mix of science, spectacle, and shareability that keeps Guinness animal records in the news.