An 82-year-old California woman has been reunited with her beloved Maine Coon cat nearly two months after the devastating Palisades Fire destroyed her Los Angeles home. Katherine Kiefer had feared her cat Aggie was lost forever when family members couldn’t locate her during the frantic evacuation. The emotional reunion, which was captured on video and shared online, has touched the hearts of millions.
Cat Found Alive After Palisades Fire
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Katherine Kiefer was at a medical appointment when the Palisades wildfire tore through her neighborhood in January. Her children rushed to evacuate the family home but couldn’t find Aggie, who was known for hiding in difficult-to-reach places.
“The one thing my mom asked was: ‘Did you get Aggie?'” recalled Carolyn Kiefer, Katherine’s daughter.
For two long months, the family assumed the worst. Then, over the weekend, Katherine received an unexpected call from the West Los Angeles Animal Shelter with miraculous news: Aggie had been found alive.
The emotional reunion between Katherine and her cat was captured by her daughter Carolyn in a TikTok video that quickly went viral, garnering more than one million likes. The footage shows tears streaming down Katherine’s face as she holds her severely malnourished but alive companion.
“I was very much worried that I was going to wake up and discover it had been a dream,” Katherine said, describing her disbelief at getting her pet back.
Cat Requires Extensive Medical Treatment After Fire Ordeal
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Aggie’s survival story is remarkable, but the cat’s journey to recovery has only just begun. After two months of presumably fending for herself among the fire-ravaged ruins, Aggie was found in critical condition.
“She was basically skin and bone, and in a state of absolute starvation,” Carolyn explained.
The cat has already undergone several blood transfusions and is currently under the care of a veterinary specialist. The family expects Aggie to be released from VCA Chatoak Animal Hospital on Thursday, when they’ll be officially reunited.
The Kiefer family started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover Aggie’s mounting veterinary bills, which have already reached approximately $30,000. The public response has been overwhelming, with more than $21,000 raised by Tuesday afternoon as people touched by the story contributed to Aggie’s care.
Special Bond Formed During Pandemic
Aggie, who is about 5 years old, came into Katherine’s life during the COVID-19 pandemic when a friend gifted her the Maine Coon. This timing made their bond particularly special, as the cat provided companionship during a time of widespread isolation.
The story highlights the deep connections people form with their pets and the lengths they’ll go to save them during disasters. Many pet owners faced similar challenges during the frantic evacuations forced by the Palisades wildfire in January.
Katherine is now anxiously awaiting Thursday when Aggie will finally come home. After everything they’ve been through, she has some wisdom to share with other pet owners: “Don’t underestimate cats,” she said.
The viral nature of their reunion has led to social media users requesting daily updates on Aggie’s recovery.
