Yahoo Lifestyle Cat Feared Dead in L.A. Wildfires Makes Her Way Back to Owner 2 Months Later: 'Never Lose Hope'
The cat was reportedly found roaming the street where her owner lived by an animal control officer
A cat thought to have died in the Los Angeles wildfires in January proved that there may be some merit to the saying that the animal has nine lives after all.
Katherine Kiefer, 82, lost her Maine coon cat Aggie during the Palisades fire, which destroyed her home. However, she did not give up hope that the feline was still alive, and two months later, she was reunited with her pet.
In March, the woman received a call from the West Los Angeles Animal Shelter informing her that they had found Aggie. Her daughter, Carolyn, captured the emotional moment Aggie was returned to Kiefer in a viral TikTok video that garnered over 1 million views.
In the video, an emotional Kiefer reaches out her hand to pet the cat before breaking into tears and wiping her eyes. After an employee at the shelter hands Aggie over, Kiefer holds the cat close to her chest.
Carolyn shared in the video that Aggie was "found on our street" where their home burned down. She wrote that the cat "lived in the ashes and ruins for two months" and stayed "close to home."
Related: Los Angeles Man Stunned to Find His Dog Alive After 5 Nights Alone amid Fire Rubble: ‘Thank You God'
GoFundMe
Katherine Kiefer with her cat Aggie"We [couldn't] be more grateful to the Westside Animal Shelter," she wrote over the video, adding, "Never lose hope."
Kiefer told the Associated Press she had been at a medical appointment when the Palisades fire reached her neighborhood. She said that her children could not find the cat — who often liked to hide — while evacuating.
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According to Fox 11 Los Angeles, an animal control officer found Aggie in a weakened state, roaming around the area close to her home on Bestor Blvd. After scanning the cat's microchip, the authorities contacted Kiefer to initiate the reunification process.
"I didn't think I'd ever see her again," Kiefer told the outlet. "There's just such a connection, it's sort of like you have with your children. She really means — I don't want to say 'everything' — but that's the only word that comes to mind."
Though the pair are happily reunited, they still face some rough times ahead. When Aggie was found, her fur was burned and matted, and she was malnourished, per Fox 11 Los Angeles. Carolyn described Aggie's state to AP, saying, "She was basically skin and bone and in a state of absolute starvation."
The cat needed multiple blood transfusions and was still recovering in the hospital. In the meantime, the family set up a GoFundMe to help pay Aggie's veterinarian bills. At the time of publishing, they've raised over $27K.
"I just didn't think I'd ever really get past losing her," Kiefer told Fox 11 Los Angeles. "That cat really has nine lives… Just don't give up hope. Don't underestimate cats."
Aggie is scheduled to return home with the Kiefers on Thursday, March 13.
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