California Woman and Cat Reunited After 2 Months Following Wildfire Home Loss

A California Maine Coon named Aggie seems to be proving the old saying about cats having nine lives.

After the Palisades wildfire in Los Angeles reduced her family’s home to ashes two months ago, the beloved cat was presumed dead. However, her owner, 82-year-old Katherine Kiefer, never completely lost hope.

Kiefer received a call from the West Los Angeles Animal Shelter over the weekend. Her daughter, Carolyn Kiefer, shared a TikTok video of their reunion on Saturday, which quickly gained over a million likes. The video shows Katherine Kiefer shedding tears as Aggie nestled in her arms.

“I was very worried that I would wake up and discover it had been a dream,” she stated.

Kiefer was at a doctor’s appointment when the fire engulfed her neighborhood, and her children were unable to find Aggie, who had a habit of hiding, during the evacuation.

“The first thing my mom asked was, ‘Did you get Aggie?'” Carolyn remembers.

During the chaotic evacuation of the Palisades wildfire in January, many pet owners struggled to reach their animals.

Aggie, approximately 5 years old, was given to Katherine Kiefer by a friend during the COVID-19 pandemic. The reunion video has resonated so deeply with social media users that many have requested daily updates. By Tuesday afternoon, the family’s GoFundMe campaign for Aggie’s vet bills, which had a goal of $30,000, had surpassed $21,000.

The cat has received several blood transfusions and is currently under the care of a specialist.

“She was essentially skin and bones and severely malnourished,” Carolyn explained.

The family will be officially reunited with Aggie when she is discharged from the hospital on Thursday. Kiefer said she is eagerly awaiting the reunion and has a message for other pet owners: “Don’t underestimate cats,” she advised.