“Never lose hope”—cat feared dead in LA wildfire returns to owner after two months: Watch video

For Katherine Kiefer, 82, the Palisades wildfire in Los Angeles didn’t just destroy her home—it also took away her beloved Maine coon cat, Aggie. When the flames consumed her neighborhood in January, she feared the worst. But two months later, against all odds, she received the call she never thought would come: Aggie had survived.
As per West Los Angeles Animal Shelter, Aggie was found in March, still lingering near the ruins of her old home. Despite enduring weeks in the elements, she had somehow managed to hold on.
Kiefer’s daughter, Carolyn, captured the tearful reunion on video and shared it on TikTok, where it quickly went viral—garnering over 1 million views. The footage shows an emotional Kiefer reaching out to touch Aggie, before breaking into tears. She gently cradles the cat, holding her close to her chest, unable to believe that after all this time, her companion is finally home.

“She lived in the ashes and ruins for two months, staying close to home,” Carolyn wrote in the video. “Never lose hope.”
As per Fox 11 Los Angeles, Aggie had gone missing on the day of the fire while Kiefer was away at a medical appointment. Her children tried to find her during the evacuation, but the cat—known for her love of hiding—was nowhere to be seen.
Two months later, an animal control officer spotted a frail, malnourished cat wandering near Bestor Blvd, close to where Kiefer’s house once stood. After scanning her microchip, they confirmed it was Aggie and immediately contacted Kiefer.
“I didn’t think I’d ever see her again,” Kiefer told Fox 11 Los Angeles. “There’s just such a connection, like the one 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.”
While their reunion was nothing short of miraculous, Aggie’s journey to full recovery is far from over. As per the Associated Press, she was found weak, burned, and severely underweight—“basically skin and bone,” Carolyn described.

Aggie has since undergone multiple blood transfusions and remains in veterinary care. To help with medical expenses, the family set up a GoFundMe, which has raised over $27,000 as of publication.
Kiefer remains overwhelmed by the support and the sheer resilience of her pet. “I just didn’t think I’d ever really get past losing her,” she said. “That cat really has nine lives… Just don’t give up hope. Don’t underestimate cats.”
Aggie is expected to return home to Kiefer and her family on Thursday, March 13—a full-circle moment for a pet who never gave up on finding her way back home.