A Maine Coon kitten from Wisconsin has broken a 24-year-old Guinness World Record for the most toes on a cat, setting a new mark at 29 after overcoming a bout with pneumonia.
Erebus Anomaly's story gained national attention in the US on Monday when ABC's World News Now program recounted what one of his owners called a "miraculous" recovery from illness in his infancy, and the subsequent Guinness World Record he clinched.
Polydactyly and family history
Erebus's unusual number of toes is attributed to a genetic trait called polydactyly, which causes some cats to be born with extra phalanges. According to a 2016 article in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, this trait is relatively common in Maine Coons.
Erebus's biological father was born with six toes on each paw, giving him a total of 24, six more than the normal amount for a cat. That helped set the stage for Erebus to be born in March with eight toes on one paw and seven on the rest.
Overcoming a health scare
Erebus had one more toe than the 28 counted on a Canadian pet named Jake in 2002, a record that was tied in March by Michigan kitten Toby. His owners, Kendra Vandenbloomer and Hunter Nett of Kaukauna, Wisconsin, told local outlet WFRV it was quickly obvious he might attain the record.
Before the record could be verified, Erebus faced a serious health emergency. After noticing he was breathing through his mouth, Vandenbloomer and Nett learned he had suffered an aspiration event, when food or liquid gets into the airways. He was taken to an emergency veterinarian, diagnosed with pneumonia, placed in an oxygen machine, and given medication.
His outlook for a time was grim, the owners said on World News Now. His lungs had a white appearance despite being supposed to be black, Vandenbloomer said. He improved in a turn of events she described as "definitely miraculous," and X-rays were taken to confirm his full recovery.
Record verification and new title
Those X-rays also served as important documentation for the application Vandenbloomer and Nett submitted to Guinness World Records. The organization, which curates a database of more than 40,000 world records, bestowed the title of most toes on a cat to Erebus on 13 May, according to its website.
"It's crazy to think that one of the scariest times in his life led right into the beginning of his world record journey," read a message on a social media account created for Erebus by his owners.
The pair run a breeding cattery named BlueNorthern Maine Coons. When asked by ABC's Danny New whether Erebus might be rehomed, Vandenbloomer replied: "He's staying with us. He's a gorgeous boy."
