What a pretty, sweet boy! Good for you for taking him in! I wish you both a long and happy friendship. 
Oh he’s very handsome! Congratulations!
Oh! He’s so gorgeous he brings tears to my eyes! (Feeling a little sentimental tonight.) And extra toes? [swoons]
I nearly had a new kitten the other early morning. I was just about to pick it up, reaching over the garbage bag it was rummaging in, when it raised is cute little head and turned out to be a sweet-faced young possum. 
Can’t blame a girl for trying…
As a sidenote, orange tabbies are almost always male because it is a sex linked trait in cats.
Likewise, almost all calicos are female. There are exceptions, but those exceptions are basically genetic freaks (which makes them cool in a way, like the polydactyls are).
It definitely sounds like Arthur is very fortunate that you found him when you did. It sounds almost certain that he would have died if he spent the winter outdoors. Update us as he gains weight.
Welcome, Arthur!
~VOW
You and Arthur, together at last!
I’m glad you found him and took care of the situation. May you have a full and happy life of servitude for him. I hope that you update the thread with new pictures after he’s gained weight, so that we may behold his true wonder and majesty.
I never knew that!
Good luck to Arthur-- he’s one lucky cat.
Sorta silly question;do polydactyl animals have it easier on snow, what with built in snow shoes?
Pedantry alert!
To the second, yes. To the first, not quite. Calicos are 99.9% ( or whatever ) female, with the only exception being males carrying an extra X chromosome ( i.e XXY instead of XY ). A genetic freak, as you note. Since the orange gene is only on the X chromosome and males only get one X, they can normally only be either orange or non-orange.
But male orange cats are just more numerous, not virtually exclusive. Orange females aren’t that uncommon - I used to have one. A female with her two X chromosomes can have incomplete dominance, which is how you get your calicos. Two copies of the orange gene and she is orange. No copies and she is non-orange. But one orange and one non-orange and she is mixed, i.e. calico or tortoiseshell.
Since the orange gene is prone to damage during meiosis ( due to positioning issues near the centromere ), non-orange is a bit more common generally. So de facto a male kitten has about a 30% chance of hitting the orange lottery and a female about 10%, so distribution tends to run roughly 3:1 in favor of males vs. females among orange cats.
I’ve had good luck fattening up underweight kitties with a bit of scrambled egg yolk (no white) and parmesan cheese (no other kind, cats don’t tolerate lactose well. parmesan is low lactose) added to their diet just until they catch up. Maybe one yolk a day for a week and tapering off after that. Not replacing daily cat food, just a little extra. I’ve heard kitten food works too. The trouble with either plan could come in with the cat getting used to these treats and refusing to eat regular food if they don’t get the goodies all the time, so proceed with caution.
Yes, lets have updates =)
Warning–NSFW–Don’t click this link if you like animals. samclem
http://www.ooze.com/ooze13/cats.html :dubious:
I have an orange polydactyl male named Yogi, who sends his best regards to Arthur.
Congrats to you, wonderful human being for saving Mr. Kitty! I had both my cats declawed years ago ( I know this can spark a whole new topic!) but it was the best thing I have ever done! Suprisingly, declawed cats can still hunt… I was shocked and dismayed this summer when my 13 year old cat caught one bird, and killed another at my feeders!!!
If you’re an animal lover, I caution you to not click on the link Floater posted. It is an EXTREMELY graphic link with dead cats. Uncool, man, very uncool.
Yeah, what’s up with that? I understand if you don’t like cats, Floater, and that’s fine, but no need to threadshit. Jesus.
Don’t click - it’s a website on how to cook and skin cats, with pix of dead cats being dissected. I didn’t read very much of it at all, and didn’t make it past the first couple of pictures, so I don’t know if it’s supposed to be some sort of black humour thing or not. In any case, it’s tasteless.
Floater, your post screams threadshit. Don’t do this again.
I’ve added a spoiler box.
If that’s true, I think it should mean an automatic ban. Seriously.
Thank you, posters, for of the kind words! Everything is quiet at home; Arthur has been moved into a bedroom with a king bed and sunny windows for the day. As the vet wanted me to isolate him for a day or two until the ear mites have been decimated, I may not let him out (with supervision) until tomorrow, but it will be hard going. He really wants to explore the house and has tried to slip past several times.
Astonishingly, this morning he tried to slip out while the dog was trying to slip in. 
They ignored each other after a nose bump in favor of their goals= *‘freedom!’ *and ‘eat cat food!’.
I will definitely be updating this thread on his progress, with pictures of his development.
**Carnut **and Scubaqueen,
I went to the East Valley Animal Clinic, if that is yours as well? They have cats roaming the building and are friendly. (Or vet offices look alike?)
I’m glad my computer blocked that link when I clicked. I don’t understand posting something like that. 
This is a great story, and I think everyone needs a cat like George in their household to keep the other occupants on their toes.
No chip and no lost cat posters fitting him. (And, you are right, I think he wold have died if left much longer) I admit, I **really **hope he stays mine.
I think he looks like an alien with the big eyes and prominent cheekbones 
Agreed. I found it in the WORST of taste and highly offensive. What gives them a right to try to ruin such a happy, feel-good thread?
Not cool.
In other news, really happy that Arthur is settling in so well! What a great person you are for taking him in and what a lucky, lucky boy he is!