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Paris Hilton Turns 30 With Furry Friends

Heiress gets the party started early with a Moulin Rouge themed party in LA ahead of her actual birthday on Thursday

By Cristina Gibson Feb 16, 2011 6:26 PMTags
Paris HiltonAnthony, PacificCoastNews.com

Paris Hilton doesn't turn 30 until Thursday, but she got the festivities started early in Los Angeles last night.

The birthday girl threw a Moulin Rouge-themed party at the V-Moda fortress, a private house in the Hollywood Hills. Although the party began at 9 p.m., Paris made a fashionably late appearance, arriving around 11 with boyfriend Cy Waits in tow and cameras rolling for her Oxygen reality series.

But instead of making a beeline for the bar, her very first stop was the petting zoo:

Paris, Cy and fellow guest Kathy Griffin got up close and personal with a lynx, a hawk, a two toed sloth and more exotic animals at the petting zoo, which Paris requested specially for her soiree.

"Paris loved the animals and made sure that the handlers were humane before she worked with them," a source tells E!. "She asked a lot of questions about their care."

Of course, no birthday is complete without cake, and Paris had two creations to choose from: one with a photo of herself on it (natch) and another multi-tiered black-and-red confection.

A slideshow played photos of Paris as guests were served sliders, mac and cheese, mini grilled cheese and other finger foods. Also on hand and dressed up according to theme were her parents Rick and Kathy, her sister Nicky and her cousin Brooke.

Paris is off to NYC tomorrow, where she'll do an exclusive interview with E! and celebrate again on her actual birthday at Lavo.

As for what she's hoping for to mark the major milestone? Nothing, apparently.

On the invites to her party, Paris requested donations to the Art of Elysium charity in her name instead of presents.