The supposed "carbon copy" of a cat isn't such a perfect copy after all.

In Feb. 2001, researchers at Texas A&M University announced the birth of the first household pet to be cloned. The kitten was named cc, short for carbon copy.

But the now one-year-old cat doesn't look or behave like the original cat, named Rainbow.

cc at seven weeks oldCourtesy of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University
cc at seven weeks oldCourtesy of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University

Rainbow is a plump, brown, tan, gold and white-coloured calico, while sleak cc has striped gray and white fur. And while Rainbow is reserved, cc is curious and playful.

The American company Genetic Savings and Clone financed the project in the hopes of offering pet owners the chance to clone their favourite four-legged companion.

Scientists say cc and Rainbow show how environment can play a major role in determining both the appearance and personality of a cat. That means pet owners seeking an exact copy of an animal may be disappointed.

cc's genetic donor, RainbowCourtesy of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University
cc's genetic donor, RainbowCourtesy of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University

Ben Carlson, a spokesman for the company, said more research is needed on how to produce consistently healthy clones before they can start offering the service commercially.

He said the company has turned away customers who were interested in recreating another animal.

Last year, the researchers published results of DNA tests showing cc is a clone, and they say the animal's genes are normal. The cat currently lives in a sterile environment, but they hope to have it mate naturally.