Copy cats star at New York feline fiesta
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-10-10 09:50

Leslie Ungerer holds one of two cloned kittens at the Cat Show New York, October 9, 2004. The two kittens were born in June of 2004 and are a project of Genetic Savings & Clone Inc., who clone pets for owners. The Cat Show New York features more than 40 feline breeds and 25,000 devoted cat lovers. [Reuters]

A brave "mew" world came to Madison Square Garden on Saturday as a pair of frisky feline clones stole the limelight at New York's annual two-day cat show.

Making 10-minute appearances on the half-hour, Tabouleh and Baba Ganoush, produced by the California-based firm Genetics Savings & Clone, seemed normal by any measure - frolicsome, curious and cute, all but oblivious to gawking onlookers.

Despite the presence of hundreds of other cats, from American Bobtails and Bombays to the leopard-like Ocecats, startled-looking Korats or the ubiquitous Persians, the clones swiped center stage.

Previous cat shows, sponsored by the Cat Fanciers' Association, have been dominated by the stubby-legged Munchkins or the Sphynx, a hairless breed that seems to either fascinate or repel cat lovers everywhere.

The pair of Bengals are only the second and third-ever cloned cats, although company CEO Lou Hawthorne said his company has also produced Peaches, an 8-1/2-week-old clone, and would boast a total kitty clone output of nine by year's end.

A dog, which Hawthorne said was the most difficult species to clone, was expected during the first quarter of 2005.

Most show visitors on Saturday seemed comfortable with the option of cloning a beloved pet, which Genetics Savings & Clone promises will look nearly identical to the original, but will only have "similar" behavioral characteristics, since environment teams with genetics to influence behavior.

Hawthorne said the company had five cat cloning clients, but he predicted that business would surge once the price - now US$50,000 - came down. Breeders, he added, were expected to be an especially big market.

Judging will continue on Sunday, culminating with the best-in-show award.

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