The NBC Cosmic Log article states that at the cost of tens of thousand dollars to produce just one cat, it is unlikely that they will be sold commercially. Wanna bet? Although it may not be coming anytime soon, Kitty Night Lights may someday join genetically developed hypoallergenic cats and personalized cloned cats developed from genetic material of beloved cats that have died. Personally, I'd much rather shop at our local humane society or cat rescue group if I felt the need for another cat. I'll take a cat that glows with love any day over one that glows with cloned florescent markers.
Our Jaspurr loves to lie lengthwise on my hubby's chest at night and pat him on the face. I can just imagine the shock if DH awoke one night to see a glowing cat staring him in the eye! Oy! (Can't wait to see my readers' comments.)
Thanks to John Fischer, Guide to Philadelphia & Hawaii for Visitors for alerting me to this story.
Comments
This is outrageous and unnecessary. For once I would support PETA tactics to stop this practice. Next it will be our kids! These people have too much time on their hands.
This concept makes no sense. I saw this new development somewhere else on line and was hoping it was so.
Dear Franny, You are so right!! Unbelievable! I have a wonderful “shelter” cat, Marbella, who is just the joy of my days!!! She does not need to glow!!! I enjoy your column emmensly (sp??)
I think this is beyond gross. People need to leave nature alone!
I’m sure that there are some positives that will come out of this research, but why cats were chosen for the experiment is unclear. Cats already have a unfair reputation being associated with witchcraft, devil worship and lots of other things. We love our four cats dearly, but I admit one of these glow in the dark cats would scare me to death. I can only hope that they are never marketed either on purpose or because someone illegally got a hold of the genes.
Of course I think this experimentation is beyond disgusting and I wonder how healthy these poor little things are.
But a technical question: The article alternates between describing them as glowing under ULTRA-VIOLET light as well as ‘glow-in-the-dark’. Is that really the same thing, or is the reporter just sloppy in their terminology?
…if they don’t actually glow in the dark, but only under a black light (UV lamp), I think the potential for rich morons to buy them for fun is lessened. You’d have to put the cat under the black light to see the effect.
Just what the world needs more cats that will take up resourses that shelter,stray & feral cats need to survive.Too bad, so sad.
Jane, you are correct; these cats only glow under an ultraviolet light, and they glow red due to their cloned red fluorescence protein genes. Actually, all cats glow under UV lights, but not red. See the photo in this National Geographic article.
So interesting! Thanks for the link, Franny!
poor kitties…now there will be more of them used for tests and studies instead of being loved by there families.
I join you in your outrage over this travesty. Poor, poor cats. I’m ashamed sometimes to be thought of as a so-called “human” – we’re becoming a plague on the Earth. What can we do as a group to try to stop this horrible experimentation? I see absolutely NO benefits to us or anything else in doing this.
Funny how the cats in the National Geographic article look BETTER naturally then the genetically altered cats. I think the red would freak me out anyway but since my cats already have quite a bit of white on them already….hmm wonder what happens if I put them under a black light, lol!
Amen to you E!!!This IS BEYOND GROSS!!! And you are soooo right in your second statement!!! People DO need to leave nature alone!!! :