W.Hen Liu Zing’s cute cat died after 15 years from her side, she could not bear the idea of life without her. Instead of saying goodbye to her pet forever, she turns to science.
After investing around 140,000 (£ 14,941) in cloning her cat Tomkat, she welcomed the almost identical version of her late pet, which she named Little Tomcat.
“It was worth every money,” he told South China Morning post,
Liu Jing is far away from alone. The growing number of pets owners in China is turning to cloning as a way to expand its bond with its beloved companions. Once a thought is limited to the pages of science fiction, the stomach cloning is now an established business, which is fuel by deep emotional attachments, pursue biotechnology, and a PET market that is expanding at an unprecedented rate.
Pet cloning in China is rising with an unprecedented pet boom. As of last year, the country’s urban pet supply market reached a shocking (300.2BN (£ 32BN), which marks an increase of 7.5 percent year-on-year, Global TimesAccording to China Pet Industry White Paper 2025, the number of urban pets climbed up to 124 million and expected to move forward, by 2027, by 2027, it is predicted to hit the 400BN (£ 42.6bn) hit in the market.
Despite government efforts to increase the breeding rate of the country, pets now beat young children in China. In 2024, China officially had more pets than children under four years of age, which was quoted according to the Goldman Sachs report Xinhua news agencyThe report estimated that one of every eight urban inhabitants in China now owns a pet, which outlines the changing demographic and lifestyle preferences of the country.
Liu Ziaxia, Deputy General Secretary of the PET industry branch of the China Animal Agriculture Association, cited the changing nature of the Chinese past, spending patterns, demographic changes, and an increase in disposable income in urban areas, eating to increase the number of pets.
Liu reported, “Pets were kept for guarding homes and other practical purposes. Now, they are taking more ‘human’ roles, which are valuable for emotional interactions and companionship. Their deep integration in people’s daily lives also led the explosive increase in consumption,” Liu said that there was also explosive development in consumption. , Global Times,
Cloning a pet does not come cheap. One of the leaders of the industry, Sinoze, charges around $ 40,000 (£ 30,946) for a cat and for a dog for a dog $ 50,000 (£ 38,683), according to a report in a report Nikkei AsiaSinogene’s website provides customers “changes to achieve their friends (back)”. A section about dog cloning “to help keep your canine partner’s soul alive”.
The process involves taking skin sampling from the original pet, inserting its DNA into a donor egg and transplanting the fetus into a surrogate mother. Results: A genetically equal twin, birth months – or even years – after the death of original pets.
Despite the high cost, the demand is increasing. In recent years, the discussion about pet cloning on Chinese social media has been viewed more than 460 million times, reflecting acute public curiosity and debate. Many companies now offer service, and the owners of pets wishing to pay the price are often seen as the final function of devotion.
While cloning is sold as a scientific way to “reunite” with a lost pet, this process is not without dispute. Animal rights activists have argued that the surrogate mothers called the mothers used in cloning through unnecessary suffering, calling the practice “cruel” and immoral.
Sinozine says its process “preserves all unique symptoms that make your dog irreplaceable, including nature, intelligence and physical appearance”. But many people have questioned whether cloned pets, while genetically similar, actually carry the same personality and soul as their predecessors.
Huang U, owner of China’s first clone cat, Garlic, experienced this Firsthand. Despite the confirmation of DNA that the new garlic was an accurate genetic copy, its marks were slightly different – and even more importantly, the way he had done the original garlic on Huang did not react.
Huang admitted, “The original pattern of his coat is the same, but a specific patch of black fur has gone on his chin.” Sixth tone In 2019, saying that he was “a little disappointed” when he first saw new garlic.
Logistic accidents have also taken place. In one case, a cloning company accidentally produced a whole garbage of clone puppies instead of one. The owner, Leiang Juan, was left with many similar dogs – an unexpected and expensive, surprise.
“Either it is not successful, or will be a whole garbage,” Liang told SCMPTo end the adoption of the entire garbage.
While some get relief in the idea of a cloned partner, others continue to question whether a genetic copy can actually replace a cute pet, whose personality and memories specifically shape by experience. The debate on morality and morality behind cloning, its effectiveness, and long -term results are far from fixed.
