BRENDA SEROTTE

Peruvian Cat Feast
(From a newspaper clipping found on the sidewalk in Lima, Perú.)

A last-minute appeal from the Humane Society in Cañete, Perú, a southern coastal town, persuaded organizers to cancel a cat cookery festival celebrating a local saint's day. As the highly advertised fete began, amid crates of chilled beer and about 50 plump cats ready for the grill, health officials showed up and broke up the event.

The tradition of cat-eating goes back to the 18th century: "The inhabitants of some coastal towns eat cats today for the same superstitious reasons," said one folklore specialist, "as they did 300 years ago. Because cats are supposed to have nine lives, many humans believe they too will live longer."

Another resident, identified only as Juan, disputed that; he explained that stray cats are the best feed have much more flavor, "And that's the real reason we eat them!”

BRENDA SEROTTE