The cloned cat may still have the opportunity to interact with the original, so it could just be taken in as a "child" kitten of the cloned cat.

The project is mostly to prove viability as I've seen focus on dogs and horses.

There is a great documentary on a scientist who is cloning Saudi Arabian horses.

Ah, I see. Well it's viable as people are doing it, but as well as being expensive it leads to multiple other cats needing homes: https://www.catster.com/weekly-mews/the-dark-side-of-cat-clo...

Seems best avoided.