PetKnows

While cloning remains a controversial issue among humans - it seems to be making head way in the world of pets. Cloning initiatives such as cancer sniffing dogs and hypoallergenic cats are becoming the newest addition to the animal kingdom. Long gone are the days of Lady and the Tramp sharing a string of spaghetti - it’s time to welcome a new set of paws sharing an entirely different platter - the petri dish.

Apparently the cancer sniffing dog is going to be a clone of Marine, a black Labrador retriever, touted as having a world top cancer-sniffing ability. Japanese experts in South Korea are going to make her clones as a way to promote studies about cancer-sniffing dogs.

While the cancer-sniffing-dog clones are still in the lab, the hypoallergenic cats are already on the market.

Allerca, a company based out of Delaware in the United States, offers three different varieties of genetically modified cat.

The ALLERCA GD hypoallergenic cat at $5,950 is “friendly, playful and affectionate” and “comes in all coat colors and patterns. The coat is medium-long with low maintenance and minimal shedding.”

Next up we have the ultimate Siamese cat called the CHAKAN - which comes with a “creamy base coat with colored points on their snouts, ears, paws, lower legs and tails. They have almond-shaped, bright blue eyes and short, flat lying coats. The CHAKAN GD is an affectionate and intelligent cat, and like the Siamese, renowned for their social nature. They enjoy being with people and can be playful extroverts. The CHAKAN GD is a relatively lightweight cat, averaging 6-8 pounds (2.5-3.5 kg).” This one only costs a mere, $10,900.

Finally - the last cat - the one that costs a whopping $31,000 (and can go up to $125,000 according to the Lifestyle Pets website) - is described as having “the markings and standing of a leopard and grows up to a very large 30 pounds (14 kg) in weight.”

Could you imagine paying for this to live in your home? That is one expensive allergy.