"I think that falls under the umbrella of temperament. That would be a very similar behavior. We do hear back from clients, like, 'He is really attracted to water. She sits in the exact same place where the old one used to sit. It's attracted to the same types of toys or foods.' Or whatever. So I probably think it would be very similar and be tearing up your furniture."
Satisfied Customers
GS&C has happy customers. In fact, the company claims, the gene bank is doing three times the business this year that it did last year. (Figures withheld.) Earlier this year, the firm moved into a brand-new lab in Madison, Wis., which is the world's largest high-tech cloning facility. (Sausalito remains the corporate office.)
"She's back! Oh my God! She's back! I can't fucking believe it! It's her; it's really her! My Fluffy's back!!!!" This is what I imagine those who get their cats cloned scream on receiving their new feline replicas.
Sure, a wise man might say, "Instead of spending $32,000 on getting a cloned copy of your former cat, why not just go to the Humane Society and get one that looks pretty fucking similar?" It doesn't seem like a stroll through the pound would be a real time-consuming task. Cats pretty much all do catlike things. So why not save the $32K and buy a nice new car or something? To put it another way: Dealing with death is a part of life, so why not deal with it?
This is not, apparently, the attitude of the moronically rich. No sirree. They tend, it seems, to think that each of their pets is one in a million. But perhaps I, Mr. Big and Clever, am missing something that only someone whose cat has been cloned can possibly share.
Just in case that was the case, I read over the following true testimonial from someone who'd gone through cat cloning, and really, really tried to put myself in the place of the poor person who had lost a treasured pet.
"I wanted to share some things with you about my baby. She has been here less than 12 hours and she is EXACT, EXACT, EXACT in all of her mannerisms, habits, traits and personality. She is already watching TV like my Gizmo and has already adopted Gizmo's favorite chair, the rocker in the family room.
"She was very vocal when she wanted something or wanted attention which she has displayed several times already, just like my Gizmo.
"I was amazed she tilted her head way back for me and as soon as she did I immediately knew she wanted me to rub under her chin, just like my Gizmo. She can't stand to have me out of her sight, and if I go in another room for only a minute, she either comes looking for me or calls out for me to come back to her, just like you-know-who always has.
"Something else that amazed me was I would always wiggle my index finger in a come-to-me motion and say 'come here' with Gizmo. I was in the hallway, and Little Gizmo was in the family room about 20 feet away, and I did that, and she came running to me without any hesitation.
"I just can't tell you how happy, how ecstatic I am. I feel like I have been born again, like I am alive again. There are no words to describe how happy I am and how very much I would like to thank you. Today I am reliving the happiest day of my life. Thanks to you and Dr. Sperling, I have the light, the love, and the joy of my life again."
At the end of the testimonial, as I wiped away my tears, I couldn't help but think: My God -- that's a lot of money to spend on a little pussy!
