California company sells cloned cat, generating ethics debate

AP ^ | 12/22/4 | PAUL ELIAS

[SmithL]

SAN FRANCISCO -- The first cloned-to-order pet sold in the United States is named Little Nicky, an eight-week-old kitten delivered to a Texas woman saddened by the loss of a cat she had owned for 17 years.

The kitten cost its owner $50,000 and was cloned from a beloved cat, named Nicky, that died last year. Nicky's owner banked the cat's DNA, which was used to create the clone.

"He is identical. His personality is the same," the woman told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

The company, Sausalito-based Genetic Savings and Clone, made her available to speak to reporters only on condition that her name or hometown not be used. The woman said she fears being the target of groups opposed to cloning.

"Nicky loved water, which is an unusual characteristic of cats. Little Nicky jumped into my bath," said the woman, who said she is in her early 40s and employed in the airline industry.

The company delivered Little Nicky two weeks ago and was expected to publicly announced the news Thursday.

[BJClinton]

Its fur is poisonous quills, and it can shoot heat rays out of its eyes

Sign that one up for the Viking Kittens.

[NCPAC]

"Paying $50,000 for a feline friend is demented."

Agreed. However, like anything else, the more common this practice becomes, the lower the price will eventually be.

[ross_poldark]

Yes, the price will eventually go down. But with so many cats running around, free for the taking, why spend an arm and a leg for one?

[corkoman]

Its her money fer cryin out loud - she can do whatever she wants with it. Sheesh!

[Arthalion]

Already happens, to a certain extent. A few years back my wife met a couple who were at their wits end with their six year old son. The mother explained that they'd previously conceived another son by IVF, and that the extra embryo's had been banked. Sadly, that little boy was killed when he ran into the street and was hit by a car.

So what did the grieving parents do? They defrosted those embryo's to "make him again"...by their reasoning the second child should have been a "twin" since they were conceived at the same time. These wierdo's even gave the new kid THE SAME NAME as the dead one when he was born.

But they weren't the same. The first boy had curly hair, and the second straight...so the mother had his hair curled regularly. The first boy was quiet, and liked to sit for hours reading his books, while the second wanted to climb trees and play baseball all day...so the mother banned sporting goods from their home and required him to read alone in his room. The first boy was well behaved, while the second threw temper tantrums all the time...so the mother had him drugged up on Ritalin.

It's sad really, because my wife (who has a degree in child psychology and early childhood education) only saw them a couple of times. The mother was adamant that there was something wrong with her child and wanted him "fixed", but after my wife gingerly suggested that she go into counseling herself, the mother exploded, stormed out, and never came back.

These kinds of stories are just going to become more common when cloning reaches us humans. Our personalities and traits are developed though experience and chance, and have little to do with our genetic code. Even identical twins often have extremely divergent personalities and interests...people who assume that cloning will bring their loved ones back are going to be extremely disappointed.

[searchandrecovery]

I also have a cloned cat for sale. Please Freepmail me with your offers. Certified by the ACSPCA (American Cloning Society for the Preservation of Cats in America). It's a great investment that will only increase in value (well, until it dies - sell it before then).

[GladesGuru]

If one is faced with taxes or cloned cat - choose the cloned cat.

[patton]

"Sometimes, dead is bettah..."

[transhumanist]

well, until it dies - sell it before then

Nono... when it dies, you just clone it again.

[ShellieGOP]

We just had made heartbreaking decision to put our beloved 20 year old cat Mindy to sleep. She had recently developed a thyroid condition, and couldn't find off the problem because, the vet said, of her age. She was suffering so, and after selfishly trying to keep our friend and loved one with us for several weeks while she wasted away, we sadly took her in and said a tearful goodbye.

I used to call her my first born, as our daughter didn't come until three years later. LOL :)

I can understand this lady's decision, but for the outrageous cost and the abundance of cats already needing good homes. But I can't think of her without breaking into tears.

I miss my cat!!

[exDemMom]

All of my cats came from the humane society or were strays I picked up.

Heck, I don't even have to go get them. They just appear, cats and their kittens.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

All your DNA are belong to me!

/humor

[LibertyGirl77]

"The kitten cost its owner $50,000"

I just spit Reisling all over my monitor.

That's one pricey kitten.

[NCPAC]

Hey, I wouldn't spend that type of cash for a cloned (or non-cloned) pet even if I had that kind of money. However, it's her money and she can spend it as she sees fit. My only point was that the price for such services will eventually drop.

Within ten years, cloned and or designer pets will likely be a growth industry, the stocks of companies engaged in said services being traded on Wall Street.

[ORECON]

[Old Professer]

Why does a winsome picture of Tatum O' Neal come fluttering across my mind's eye like the pages of a newly minted book?

[Old Professer]

I'm leaning toward the hard-wired theory myself.

[Psycho_Bunny]

The kitten cost its owner $50,000 and was cloned from a beloved cat, named Nicky, that died last year.

I'll bet $1,000 right here and now that the owner is a complete and total psycho-b!tch.

[ross_poldark]

I understand your feelings. My wife's cat, which she'd had since she was 12 years old, died a little over a month ago, after a long life of 19 years. The poor thing quit eating and we knew it was the end for her. I gave her a nice burial.

[kingsurfer]

What is the bet this kitty gets run over within the week?