I think that from a dramatic point of view this was an excellent idea -- the powerful Padrino receiving visitors asking for help, revenge even involving murder, while petting a cat....in a sort of a nonchalance attitude. Quite a strong contrast. Very serious decisions are going to be made in a calm, domestic set. Same thing at Vito's death, he just died while playing with his grandson.

I don't want realism. I want magic! Yes, yes, magic. I try to give that to people. I do misrepresent things. I don't tell the truth. I tell what ought to be truth (Blanche/A streetcar named desire)