Losing a pet can be difficult for people and for many it means parting with them forever.
But when Kelly Anderson from Austin, Texas lost her cat Chai she decided she didn’t just want a replacement cat, she wanted the same cat.
Anderson gave genetics company 'ViaGen' US$40,000 (NZ$63,000) and a tissue sample to create a genetically identical cat, which she has named Belle.
Anderson and the cloned cat have become online sensations with over 35,000 followers on TikTok.
Along with the praise and online fame, Anderson has received criticism for spending so much money on cloning her cat but she says it is worth it to have her beloved Chai with her.
"I wouldn't have the social media accounts online if I couldn't take the heat so it's been worth every rude thing that someone has said to me," she told The Project
She says she had a bond with her original cat that couldn't be broken.
"It's a connection I can't really explain. I think the closest word is soulmate. We had a relationship like I haven't had with really anything or anyone in my life and because that was so strong and special, I decided to clone her."
The cat cloner said: "She [Belle] does look the same but she does not act the same at all. They had very different starts to life so it affected them dramatically."
Anderson also said if people are thinking about cloning their pet, it is important to have a clear head when making the decision.
"It's important to make sure you're not making a rash decision that might affect you negatively if you get the clone and are more sad by it than happy."
Cloning comes with a hefty price tag which Anderson thinks will prevent many people from cloning their furry friends.
"I think more people are becoming aware of it but unless the price tag goes down I don't think it's going to become a big trend."
