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.

[GSlob]

When will they come up with designer kittens? They are to live for 20-30 years, but remain kittens and never grow up (physiologically or psychologically) beyond, say, the state of 2-3 months old kitten. THAT could be worth 50K.