Kris Stewart from British Columbia spent $50,000 to clone her beloved cat, who tragically passed away at the age of five. Now, two kittens that are identical to her late pet live in her home.
A cat named Bear became a victim of a traffic accident in 2022. His owner could not come to terms with his loss and turned to the Texas biotechnology company ViaGen, paying $50,000 for the cloning of her deceased pet's somatic cells.
“I just felt that Bear needed more life,” she shared.
After two unsuccessful attempts, the scientists were able to successfully clone the animal. As a result, two kittens were born, named Bear Bear and Honey Bear. The kittens were born on January 10 and spent two months under the supervision of specialists at the ViaGen center in New York before Kris Stewart was able to take them home.
“They both look very much like Bear,” the owner said, noting that the kittens are “very brave and cheeky.” She added that her late cat was the smartest animal she had ever lived with. “And I’ve had animals since I was two years old,” the woman added. These words were published in the Daily Mail.
The company reported that, in addition to cats, they are also willing to clone dogs for $50,000 and horses for $85,000.
However, scientists warn that cloned animals may not inherit the personalities of their predecessors. As an example, the publication cites the story of a couple from Texas who cloned a bull named Chance, known for his friendly nature. The new bull was named Second Chance. However, Second Chance turned out to be not as friendly as his predecessor and attacked his owners twice.
