Woman Spends £19k To Clone Beloved Deceased Cat
Kelly Anderson did not just miss her cat, Chai. She turned grief into a science experiment, spending a jaw-dropping £19,000 to clone the feline who died in 2017.
The situation is complicated in the most specific way: the new cat, Belle, is said to carry identical DNA to Chai after a £25,000 total cloning cost. Kelly, 32, even holds Belle on her lap while addressing the side-eye she already knows she’ll get, because the genetics are the same, but the vibe is not.
And that is where the story gets really interesting, because Kelly insists Belle is not a “replacement,” she is a new cat with Chai’s blueprint.
Before the cloning bill even comes into focus, Kelly Anderson is basically bracing herself for everyone who thinks “just get another cat” is the only acceptable move after Chai’s death in 2017.
Kelly Anderson, 32, from Texas, made the extraordinary decision to spend £19,000 to clone her beloved cat, Chai, who passed away in 2017. Describing Chai as "the closest thing she could describe to a soulmate," Kelly was determined to bring back her cherished companion.
When Belle finally arrives and Kelly cuddles her like the return of a beloved routine, the £25,000 total cost makes the whole thing feel less like a pet story and more like a high-stakes gamble.
Biologically speaking, Belle, Kelly's new cat, possesses identical DNA to Chai, her beloved feline companion, as a result of the costly cloning procedure totaling £25,000 (£19,100). With Belle nestled on her lap, Kelly addressed the audience, acknowledging their apparent skepticism. "Belle became a part of my life just last year," Kelly disclosed. "And I must say, the wait was undoubtedly worth it."
However, Kelly was quick to note that despite their genetic similarity, Belle's personality diverges significantly from that of Chai. "While Belle shares Chai's genetic makeup," Kelly elaborated, "she is her own distinct feline. I never expected her to replicate Chai, nor did I desire it. What truly matters to me is that I can carry on a part of Chai's essence through Belle."
Reflecting on the profound bond she shared with Chai, Kelly expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to perpetuate that connection through Belle. "Belle may possess Chai's genetic blueprint," Kelly affirmed, "but her presence in my life allows me to honor and cherish Chai's memory in a unique and meaningful way."
It also echoes what happened when siblings were baffled by their brother’s 3 AM calls about his cat funeral.
Then Kelly drops the plot twist, Belle may share Chai’s genetic makeup, but her personality does not match, and Kelly refuses to call it a copy-paste soulmate.
Ms. Anderson openly admitted that despite the striking resemblance between Belle and Chai, their personalities couldn't be more different. "She is her own cat," Ms. Anderson emphasized. "I never expected her to be Chai, and I never wanted her to be Chai. What matters most to me is that I get to carry on a piece of her through Belle."
Reflecting on the profound bond she shared with Chai, Ms. Anderson expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to continue that connection through Belle. "Belle may be her own unique individual," Ms. Anderson added, "but having her in my life allows me to cherish and honor the memory of Chai in a very special way."
By the time Kelly says “She is her own cat,” the focus shifts from DNA to memory, because the real point is carrying Chai’s essence forward through Belle, not chasing the past.
Ms. Anderson turned to Texas-based ViaGen Pets, a division of TransOva Genetics, to facilitate the cloning process. While ViaGen Pets has specialized in cloning horses and livestock for 17 years, they ventured into cloning cats and dogs three years ago.
The cost for cloning a dog stands at $50,000 (£38,251), while cloning a cat now amounts to $35,000 (£26,753). Notably, the company recently raised the fee by $10,000 (£7,643) to accommodate increasing expenses.
Belle might not be Chai, but Kelly still gets to live with a piece of her every single day.
For another extreme pet tribute, read about the heartbroken nurse who spent £4,000 to tango-stuff her dead cat.
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