Cat Feared Useless in L.A. Wildfires Makes Her Manner Dwelling 2 Months Later

A cat thought to have died within the Los Angeles wildfires in January proved that there could also be some advantage to the saying that the animal has 9 lives in spite of everything.

Katherine Kiefer, 82, misplaced her Maine coon cat Aggie throughout the Palisades fireplace, which destroyed her residence. Nonetheless, she didn’t surrender hope that the feline was nonetheless alive, and two months later, she was reunited along with her pet. 

In March, the girl acquired a name from the West Los Angeles Animal Shelter informing her that they’d discovered Aggie. Her daughter, Carolyn, captured the emotional second Aggie was returned to Kiefer in a viral TikTok video that garnered over 1 million views.  

Within the video, an emotional Kiefer reaches out her hand to pet the cat earlier than breaking into tears and wiping her eyes. After an worker on the shelter arms Aggie over, Kiefer holds the cat near her chest. 

Carolyn shared within the video that Aggie was “discovered on our avenue” the place their residence burned down. She wrote that the cat “lived within the ashes and ruins for 2 months” and stayed “near residence.”

“We [couldn’t] be extra grateful to the Westside Animal Shelter,” she wrote over the video, including, “By no means lose hope.”

Kiefer instructed the Related Press she had been at a medical appointment when the Palisades fireplace reached her neighborhood. She stated that her youngsters couldn’t discover the cat — who usually preferred to cover — whereas evacuating. 

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In response to Fox 11 Los Angeles, an animal management officer discovered Aggie in a weakened state, roaming across the space near her residence on Bestor Blvd. After scanning the cat’s microchip, the authorities contacted Kiefer to provoke the reunification course of.

“I did not assume I would ever see her once more,” Kiefer instructed the outlet. “There’s simply such a connection, it is type of like you might have together with your youngsters. She actually means — I do not wish to say ‘every little thing’ — however that is the one phrase that involves thoughts.”

Although the pair are fortunately reunited, they nonetheless face some tough occasions forward. When Aggie was discovered, her fur was burned and matted, and she or he was malnourished, per Fox 11 Los Angeles. Carolyn described Aggie’s state to AP, saying, “She was principally pores and skin and bone and in a state of absolute hunger.”

The cat wanted a number of blood transfusions and was nonetheless recovering within the hospital. Within the meantime, the household arrange a GoFundMe to assist pay Aggie’s veterinarian payments. On the time of publishing, they’ve raised over $27K.

“I simply did not assume I would ever actually get previous shedding her,” Kiefer instructed Fox 11 Los Angeles. “That cat actually has 9 lives… Simply do not surrender hope. Do not underestimate cats.”

Aggie is scheduled to return residence with the Kiefers on Thursday, March 13.