When wildfires tore through Napa in October 2017, chaos erupted in Laura Ringenberger’s quiet neighborhood. Smoke filled the sky, ash rained down, and Laura knew she and her family had only moments to flee for their lives. But amid the panic, one thought consumed her: her beloved cat, Kitty Kitty Star. Mostly an outdoor wanderer, the fluffy feline was nowhere to be seen. Heart pounding, Laura scoured the yard, calling her name again and again, hoping for even the faintest meow. But the cat she adored had vanished into the smoke.
“I spent about 20 minutes calling her name, but she was just gone. I was terrified that we’d never see her again,” Laura shared with Love Meow.
As the fire drew closer, Laura and her family had no choice but to evacuate, leaving behind everything they owned, including the cat. Heartbroken, they drove away, hoping against hope that Kitty Kitty Star would somehow survive.
Sadly, the fire destroyed Laura’s home. Along with the loss of their house, she was tormented by the thought that her beloved cat might not have made it through the blaze. Desperate for answers, Laura returned to her neighborhood as soon as it was safe. She flagged down an ABC 10 News reporter covering the scene and asked him to take her to the remains of her house.
Once they arrived at the charred remains of her property, Laura began to call for Kitty Kitty Star again, her voice filled with hope and fear. Walking over the blackened ground, she kept calling, “Here, kitty kitty!”
Then, the unexpected happened. Out of the ashes, Kitty Kitty Star emerged, covered in soot but miraculously unharmed.
“She appeared about 20 minutes after we got there. I kept calling, and eventually, I heard her faint meow in the distance. It was such an unreal moment,” Laura recalled to Love Meow. “To see her there, alive and okay, it was unbelievable.”
Laura rushed to her cat, hugging her tightly and kissing her soot-covered fur. Kitty Kitty Star nestled into Laura’s arms, clearly just as happy to be reunited with her favorite human.
“I’ve never heard her so vocal before,” Laura said. “The relief I felt was overwhelming. I can’t imagine the guilt I would’ve carried if I hadn’t found her.”
Now, Laura, Kitty Kitty Star, and the rest of her family are staying in a friend’s condo in Lake Tahoe. For the time being, Kitty Kitty Star has transitioned to being an indoor cat, and she seems to be enjoying it.
“This condo has two flights of stairs, and she’s been bouncing up and down them,” Laura told The Dodo. “She’s a very happy kitty. This morning, we woke up to find her curled up in bed with us, which was so sweet.”
While the future is still uncertain, Laura is deeply grateful that her family, including Kitty Kitty Star, is safe and together.
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This content was created with AI assistance and edited by the iHeartCats team.