Cloning Cats

Want an example of how ridiculous people can be? Check out this good shit. The Reader's Digest Version: Lonely old women pays $50,000 for clone of deceased pet cat. Let me first clarify that I have no problem with genetic engineering. I hope someday we're all genetically engineered and they find genes for the impulsive need to people to continue to write checks despite the availability of technology that doesn't annoy the hell out of me when I'm buying beer at the grocery store. Hooray for genetic engineering!

The problem that I have with this story is the idea that this old lady can't get over the death of her stupid cat. I am a pet owner, and you can ask people who know me, but I love my dog more than most people would consider normal and/or healthy. My dog is spoiled. But, someone should have sat that old woman down and made her watch one of the countless movies that help one deal with the death of a pet. The lessons from each movie vary from even nice dogs kill (Old Yeller) to never bury your cat or child in an Indian Burial ground (Pet Semetary). This old hag spent 50 large for a genetic replica of her stupid cat that probably didn't even crap in the litter box.

The other side of this is that it's not like there is a cat shortage. Last time I checked, the alley behind my house was inhabited by no fewer than 1200 cats of varying size and color. Something tells me there is another cat out there that is close enough to her old cat, and probably doesn't shit everywhere (like 17 year-old cats tend to do). One guy in the article calls it like it is and explains that this old lady is "morally reprehensible", when there are so many cats that already need good homes. I just think she's stupid and selfish. If you have $50,000 sitting around, support a local homeless shelter or program to help women who are victims of domestic violence. I hope her kids bank her DNA when she dies and then clone her.