Erebus Anomaly almost didn’t make it.
A few days after being born at a cattery in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, this Maine Coon kitten suffered an aspiration episode that led to severe pneumonia. He needed oxygen, medication, and emergency veterinary care. His owners, Kendra Vandenbloomer and Hunter Nett, described his recovery as a miracle.
What they didn’t know then was that this fragile kitten was hiding another surprise: he was born with 29 toes —7 on each front paw, 8 on one hind paw, and 7 on the other—, 11 more than the average cat. The cause is polydactyly, a common genetic trait in his breed that his biological father also had, with 24 toes.
In May 2026, Guinness World Records confirmed what they had already suspected: Erebus surpassed the record of 28 toes that had stood since 2002. Today, the little one who fought to breathe is officially the cat with the most toes in the world.
