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# Mountain lion becomes domesticated in suburbs
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/mountain-lion-becomes-domesticated-in-suburbs-2/
- Published: 2003-07-02T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T02:27:45.000Z
- Author: John Wood
- Tags: Community, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*Cat living in Santa Monica apartment, owner on probation*

When Sunawin Andrews took her pet mountain lion to the vet in April, she expected that it would get well. Instead, she got turned in.

Someone saw Andrews drop off the 21-day-old male cat and reported her to state officials, who confiscated Andrews’ pet and issued her a citation.

Possessing a mountain lion is illegal in California. It carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail, plus $27,000 in fines and penalties.

Andrews, who lives in an eight-unit complex at 1524 17th St. in Santa Monica, bought her mountain lion from a wild animal pet store in Ohio, said California Department of Fish and Game Lt. Marty Wall.

She then boarded an airplane bound for Santa Monica, carrying the lion onboard. But shortly after she returned, the kitten fell ill from lack of nutrition and was suffering from temporary blindness, Wall said.

After being confiscated from the veterinarian’s office, the mountain lion was taken to San Diego where it is being held at a rehabilitation center for wild animals.

Andrews went before Santa Monica Superior Court Judge Bernard Kamins last week. Despite the heavy penalties associated with her charge, she will not serve any jail time, or pay a fine.

Instead, Judge Kamins sentenced her to probation and 100 volunteer hours at an animal rescue shelter.

Andrews told Judge Kamins said she planned to train the mountain lion for exhibition and possibly use it for film and television appearances. She couldn’t be reached for comment.

While it is unclear how much she paid for the animal, male mountain lions can cost thousands of dollars.

Wall said that although they look cute and harmless when they’re kittens, mountain lions can grow to more than eight feet in length, tail included, and weigh more than 150 pounds.

They are agile predators, he added. “You don’t have to be smart to buy a mountain lion,” Wall said. “You just have to have money.”

> “You don’t have to be smart to buy a mountain lion. You just have to have money.” — — LT. MARTY WALL California Department of Fish and Game

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/070203-04_02.jpg)

A woman kept a mountain lion in an apartment in this building on 17th Street. (Photo: John Wood/Daily Press)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/070203-04_03.jpg)

A woman kept a mountain lion in an apartment in this building on 17th Street. (Photo: John Wood/Daily Press)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/070203-04_04.jpg)

A woman kept a mountain lion in an apartment in this building on 17th Street. (Photo: John Wood/Daily Press)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/070203-04_05.jpg)

A woman kept a mountain lion in an apartment in this building on 17th Street. (Photo: John Wood/Daily Press)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 2, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/070203.pdf?ref=smdp.com)