Tearful reunion between cat feared dead in LA wildfire and her 82-year-old owner goes viral
It appears the tall tale that all cats have nine lives may be true for a California Maine coon named Aggie.
The beloved feline was feared dead for two months after the Palisades wildfire in Los Angeles left her familyâs home in ashes.
But her owner, 82-year-old Katherine Kiefer, held out some hope.
Over the weekend, Kiefer got a call from the West Los Angeles Animal Shelter.
Her daughter Carolyn Kiefer shared their reunion Saturday in a TikTok video that quickly garnered more than 1 million likes.
It shows tears pouring from Katherine Kieferâs eyes as Aggie curled up in her arms.
âI was very much worried that I was going to wake up and (discover) it had been a dream,â she said.
Kiefer was at a medical appointment the day fire engulfed her neighborhood and her children couldnât find Aggie â who was prone to hiding â when they tried to rescue her.
âThe one thing my mom asked was: âDid you get Aggie?â Carolyn recalls.
Many pet owners struggled to reach their domesticated animals during the frantic rush to evacuate from the Palisades wildfire in January.
Aggie, who is about 5 years old, was gifted to Katherine Kiefer by a friend during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Social media users have been so touched by the pairâs reunion video that many have been asking for daily updates.
The familyâs $30,000 GoFundMe campaign for Aggieâs vet bills had topped $21,000 by Tuesday afternoon.
The cat has undergone several blood transfusions and is now seeing a specialist.
âShe was basically skin and bone, and in a state of absolute starvation,â Carolyn said.
The family will officially be reunited with Aggie when she is released from the hospital Thursday.
Kiefer said sheâs anxiously waiting, and she has a message for other pet owners: âDonât underestimate cats,â she said.
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