CATS are famous for having nine lives but moggy Jack Hemingway stands out more because of his 24 toes.

Black cat Jack is a polydactyl which means he has extra toes on his paws.

Some boast the extra digits on just one paw but Jack has them on all four.

The unusual feline is currently being looked after at Cat Protection’s Colne Valley branch but is looking for a new home.

The charity, which has a shop in High Street, Halstead, is hoping a loving family will take on 24 toed Jack who has had an unsettled life so far.

He was found as a stray in Braintree wearing a blue collar but had no microchip so his owner couldn’t be traced.

The person who found him was unable to keep him and he was rehomed in Colchester.

He was then placed in a cattery as he was unable to go outside due to the home being on a busy road.

Originally just called Jack, the puss adopted the Hemingway surname because of his extra toes.

The name is a nod to Ernest Hemingway in honour of the colony of more than 50 sixtoed cats at the Nobel-prizewinning author’s home and museum in Key West Florida.

All the cats there are descended from a polydactyl ship’s cat called Snowball and Ernest Hemingway named all Snowball’s offspring after famous people – a tradition now continued with Jack.

Terry Hughes, from the charity, said: “It’s not a disorder, just a genetic variant and polydactyl cats are agile and great climbers, which made them favourite ships’ cats in the days of sail.

“Jack has had an unsettled life.

“He had obviously been owned as he was wearing an old blue collar.

“But he was not chipped so his owner could not be traced.

“His finder could not keep him as she already had cats so he was rehomed in Colchester.

“But that didn’t work because Jack was desperate to go outside, but the house was on a busy road.

“Now he is living in a cattery pen and is very unhappy and in need of a loving home.”

The charity helps care for cats and find them loving families serving the whole Braintree district and beyond.

To adopt Jack call Cats Protection on 01376 755725.