3-Week-Old Maine Coon Polydactyl Kittens' Tiny Paws Have People Obsessed

Maine Coon kittens are cute enough on their own. They're almost regular sized, but of course, not quite. They're also some of the fluffiest cats around, and definitely a top contender for "most animated."

But, when you add extra toes into the mix... There's no competition. The toe beans will win every single time! On Monday, June 3rd, one cattery posted a video of their newest litter, and it includes several Maine Coon kitties with extra toe beans. Everyone is losing their minds a little:

4 Paws Racing seems to care a lot about their kittens, which makes me very happy. I can't have cats, but if I could, a Maine Coon would totally be what I wanted!

Related: Rare 'Polydactyl' Maine Coon Kitten Is the Definition of Irresistible

The kittens in the video are all 3.5 weeks old, so they've got a fair bit of growing to do before they can move on to their forever homes. Like puppies, kittens typically get adopted out at 8 weeks old or better. Until then, these sweet cats will be with their mother, slowly weaning off of breastmilk and playing together. With, apparently, a whole bunch of extra toes.

As you can see in the video, these Maine Coon kittens are all in great health . There's nothing wrong with them, it's just a genetic mutation that sometimes leads to the kittens in the litter possessing a few extra beans. In fact, polydactyl cats are legitimately coveted by some people!

Do Breeds Intentionally Breed Polydactyl Pets?

Polydactyly can occur in anything, but it's most commonly seen (and coveted) in cats. Dogs have it, too, but it doesn't occur as often and, for some reason, society has not deemed that nearly as cute.

Polydactyly, as far as anyone knows, has no significant impact on a cat's overall health, positive or negative. A cat with extra toes may have balancing issues, especially when they're young, but there's no evidence that suggests polydactyly is linked to any joint health disorders or anything of the sort. However, some do still consider the practice unethical - intentional breeding of genetic deformities is often frowned upon, even if it's harmless.

Polydactyly is thought to be genetically inherited, and there are breeders who encourage the condition by breeding polydactyls together. A standard Maine Coon cat will already cost you a pretty penny depending on coat color, but a polydactyl kitten hikes that price up even further. While we weren't able to confirm this cattery's exact prices, other catteries have polydactyl kittens listed for as much as $5,000. While they'd be well-worth the investment, that's definitely something to consider. The extra beans cost extra!