Cats in Beverly Hills & I don't mean the Broadway Show


Marilynn Valene admits she never wanted a cat until she moved into a converted apartment/condominium in Beverly Hills, California, and was afraid she'd get mice. Now Tom Shaw and Peanut Encino (she's since gotten a second cat) are adored members of the family. Her best friend, Barbara Armstrong, picks them up so often that eventually the cats disappear for a respite. "But every night, once she's asleep, they climb up and snuggle with her, Valene" says.



Cats are also natural predators, which can lead them to roam (and return with unwanted visitors, including ticks, fleas, and small prey) unless they're kept indoors, as animal associations recommend.

The biggest cautionary note when considering a cat is that they can be more easily goaded into bad interactions with kids, which can become a serious problem, particularly if the cat strikes out with its claws. Unlike those from dogs, cat scratches and bites that break the skin can get infected from the bacteria cats have in their saliva and on their claws, so talk to your child about appropriate behavior with the animal. Declawing is a solution, but the procedure can alter the cat's ability to run and jump and animal advocates consider it inhumane.
David Harrison Levi