What a miraculous story. Ritz gets to live out his golden years surrounded by so much love. Thank goodness for the sweet person who took Ritz to the vet, and for the vet for checking on his microchip! My best friend, my cat, died three days ago; this story was a perfect reminder of how it's normal to bond deeply with our animal companions. The woman tearing up, even after 16 years, as she talked about not being able to give up hope? THAT'S love, pure and true. And it's how most of us feel about our beloved family animal members. Thank you, Steve Hartman!
A couple of years ago, my nephew and his wife noticed a pretty little cat wandering around their neighborhood. She was thin and bedraggled but very friendly and came right into their house. They took her to the vet and as a matter of routine she was scanned for a chip. It turned out she was registered to a lady in Washington state 2000 miles away, who was ecstatic to get her back. Their development is mainly military families and they figured she must have wandered into the moving van of a family making a PCS move from Fairchild to Lackland and got locked in. It happens more often than you think . Cats are curious. Get them chipped.
What a beautiful story, it made me cry. If people would only microchip their pets, it is so important. I adopted an extremely ancient cat from a shelter a year ago, she was dirty, smelled, ill and a perfect sweetheart. This cat reminded me of her. Lovely story.
That's so bittersweet. It's amazing to see them reunited, but you know he's close to the end. At least Ritz will be in a loving home when the moment comes.
My cat is the most important being in my life. I couldn’t imagine being without him. He’s microchipped, wears a collar with tags, and I made sure he knows where his home is located in case he ever roams off outdoors.
For me, this is a gentle reminder to microchip. Apparently, Ritz had never been in a vets office or the microchip would have been discovered much sooner. I completely understand this woman’s distress but what a very very happy ending!
Perhaps. Do vets have a policy to scan all of their patients for microchips during treatment? I highly doubt it. They probably trust that anyone who brings an animal in and pays for treatment is the rightful owner.
I am so over the moon happy you found your little baby Ritz after all these years! He is so precious and he looks just like my late Cookie Love - they could have been brothers. I know you will cherish the years you have left together. What a beautiful reunion of LoveLoveLove!
She really is belongs to you... it's never to late, you can still give the love and care that she truly deserve. Realized that Microchip is really important.
As cat mom..this is truly amazing story. That Ritz lived so nearby but that he lived in the world and finally reunited with his true family. I had my cat LuluRose microchipped when she was a baby.. So happy ~ God bless Ritz to enjoy his family forever🙏🙏
Such a beautiful, heart warming story. I especially tear up when I see Ritz walk around the corner limping. When I pause the video to look at the lost and found pet poster he was 2 years old when he went missing. He's 18 now, I'm happy to know he will live out the rest of his life with his original family. 😌
My cats have lived on average about 16 years,...I had my high school years cat, Fritzie, followed by my college and grad school years cat, Fritzie Two. Then I took in an older, found cat, Kit Kat, she lived 3 years, followed by another older cat, Miss Pussycat, another foundling, she lived 8 years. Next came Maynard cat, I got him as a kitten, he lived 17 years. Then quite possibly my last cat, who was born on July 4th, 2020, Sophie, (and I am 68 years old now) if I don't die and can still care for a cat, I'll be 84, in 16 years. I also fed and cared for two stray alley cats, who lived outside for 10 years, Sofa Cat & CopyCat, during Maynard cat's life time. Each one was special and were the greatest joys of my life.
Apparently he was with someone who loved him for most of those years. What happened to his step-human was probably that they had passed, & either they had no family or their family wasn’t fond of pets.
My cat was lost for ten days. He was chipped. I had my moments in those days. The day I finally got him back, he was apparently meowing non stop. The minute I got to him, he started purring and fell asleep. He’s an indoor cat, I never imagined I would need that chip. But I’m happy we have it. I tell people, always get your pets chipped, and keep your contact and your pets info up to date.
OMGosh! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 I'm so happy for them and happy that someone took care of him for a while or whatever. At least he's alive and back w/his family. I pray he lives long enough to gain all the love from them & they from him. 😍🤗👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Damn I hate it when cat does this... My boy also always disappears for 1 or 2 days, and acts like nothing happens when he gets home 😓 Being pawrent is like having a toddler and rebel teenager at the same time.
to the lady that brought ritz to the vet. you are a hero.
What a miraculous story. Ritz gets to live out his golden years surrounded by so much love. Thank goodness for the sweet person who took Ritz to the vet, and for the vet for checking on his microchip! My best friend, my cat, died three days ago; this story was a perfect reminder of how it's normal to bond deeply with our animal companions. The woman tearing up, even after 16 years, as she talked about not being able to give up hope? THAT'S love, pure and true. And it's how most of us feel about our beloved family animal members. Thank you, Steve Hartman!
I'm so sorry for your loss 💔
I’m so sorry for your loss of your best friend. I totally understand how you feel.
A couple of years ago, my nephew and his wife noticed a pretty little cat wandering around their neighborhood. She was thin and bedraggled but very friendly and came right into their house. They took her to the vet and as a matter of routine she was scanned for a chip. It turned out she was registered to a lady in Washington state 2000 miles away, who was ecstatic to get her back. Their development is mainly military families and they figured she must have wandered into the moving van of a family making a PCS move from Fairchild to Lackland and got locked in.
It happens more often than you think . Cats are curious. Get them chipped.
What a great story!! The fact that this cat is still alive after 16 years is a feat in itself, nevermind him being reunited with his original family.
What a beautiful story, it made me cry. If people would only microchip their pets, it is so important. I adopted an extremely ancient cat from a shelter a year ago, she was dirty, smelled, ill and a perfect sweetheart. This cat reminded me of her. Lovely story.
I am still bawling. Poor Ritz! Everything alive needs a microchip as this has proven. Save the cats!
Good job adopting an aged cat. 🌸🌷💕🌷🌸 They teach us so much about love don’t they? 💙🦋💙
And put on a safety breakaway collar with contact information, microchip iant enough as we saw here
He came back to close its cycle with its parents. He is old and seems to have little time left. A truly amazing and beautiful story.
If your indoor cat escapes outdoors, place the unchanged litter box outside by your door, the cat will smell it and know it's home...
Not a good idea it attracts predators
That's so bittersweet. It's amazing to see them reunited, but you know he's close to the end. At least Ritz will be in a loving home when the moment comes.
I cried watching this! This reminds me of the importance of microchipping your pets. 🥰
I thought we had a great story of my parents' dog being found after one year, because of his microchip. But this story takes the cake! Love it!
Ritz's baby picture makes me cry. Hey Ritz! You have many many more days to enjoy your life with your family. You deserve all the happiness!
My cat is the most important being in my life. I couldn’t imagine being without him. He’s microchipped, wears a collar with tags, and I made sure he knows where his home is located in case he ever roams off outdoors.
He seems like he’s been through a lot. But I’m so glad he gets to retire with the family that never stopped loving him ❤️
Ritz--the prodigal cat! A little worse for wear but still loved by his parents.
For me, this is a gentle reminder to microchip. Apparently, Ritz had never been in a vets office or the microchip would have been discovered much sooner. I completely understand this woman’s distress but what a very very happy ending!
That's what he said.
16 years + ago, that was relatively new technology in many places. Lucky hit!
Perhaps. Do vets have a policy to scan all of their patients for microchips during treatment? I highly doubt it. They probably trust that anyone who brings an animal in and pays for treatment is the rightful owner.
@@gordon-1 Yes they do. However to get owner info, they have to call the company the chip is registered to, as owner info is not on the chip.
@@cc1k435 If a cat was adopted from a rescue or sanctuary, they would've been chipped, even back in 2006.
Oh my goodness now I want to cry 😭🥺 I've always loved my cats no matter what it's great that they found him after so long of a time
Down eight lives, one reserved.
Ritz has a lot of 'splaining to do. ❤🐾🐾
I'm not crying...YOU'RE crying...lol. What a wonderful story. Glad he is back home and loved.
I’m crying my eyes out. 😭😭😭😭😭
Such an emotional story. Happy that Ritz is back with his true family
Yes, I would have lost sleep over this for months. Thank Goodness! Long live the Ritz!
I am so over the moon happy you found your little baby Ritz after all these years! He is so precious and he looks just like my late Cookie Love - they could have been brothers. I know you will cherish the years you have left together. What a beautiful reunion of LoveLoveLove!
She really is belongs to you... it's never to late, you can still give the love and care that she truly deserve. Realized that Microchip is really important.
As cat mom..this is truly amazing story. That Ritz lived so nearby but that he lived in the world and finally reunited with his true family. I had my cat LuluRose microchipped when she was a baby..
So happy ~ God bless Ritz to enjoy his family forever🙏🙏
That cat was a stray for 15 yrs. There's hope for us all :D
Heartbreaking! All those lost years w/o kitty! 😺And a happy ending.
I have had cats my whole life, This story has me crying! Losing a cat leaves a hole in you heart. So great to hear of a heart healed.
Can’t
Stop
Crying
🥹🥹😭😭😍😍
Well just cried like a baby. What a wonderful story. Happy rest of your life Ritz!
Wonderful story. Thank you for
sending this story. My best to Ritz and family.
Wonderful that the cat was found 16 yrs later. That goodness the fur baby was not put down.
I'm so happy that he's back with his family & that he is getting the love he deserves!!!!
Somebody had to been taking care of him to live so long, but it's nice he found his parents to live out his final days.
Poor kitty!! We never know what had he been through 😭😭😭😭
Such a beautiful, heart warming story. I especially tear up when I see Ritz walk around the corner limping. When I pause the video to look at the lost and found pet poster he was 2 years old when he went missing. He's 18 now, I'm happy to know he will live out the rest of his life with his original family. 😌
Awh, poor lost little guy 😢
But so glad he was found - albeit x16 years later 👏🏻😻
What a beautiful story. Darling Ritz. He was meant to be with you two. The genuine love and attention you gave him brought him back home! Bless you🙏
What a nice, sweet family. It’s wonderful that they found their cat. This is a great and happy story.
My cats have lived on average about 16 years,...I had my high school years cat, Fritzie, followed by my college and grad school years cat, Fritzie Two. Then I took in an older, found cat, Kit Kat, she lived 3 years, followed by another older cat, Miss Pussycat, another foundling, she lived 8 years. Next came Maynard cat, I got him as a kitten, he lived 17 years. Then quite possibly my last cat, who was born on July 4th, 2020, Sophie, (and I am 68 years old now) if I don't die and can still care for a cat, I'll be 84, in 16 years. I also fed and cared for two stray alley cats, who lived outside for 10 years, Sofa Cat & CopyCat, during Maynard cat's life time. Each one was special and were the greatest joys of my life.
God bless you, Ritz.
I bet Steve Hartman's neighbors love him so much he's like a barrel of joy
Better late then never. ❤️🐱
He’s a beauty. Bless him.
What a wonderful ending to this story.
I love this story! Thank you for sharing it Sunday Morning!
My man Ritz has seen some stuff 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
He's a womenizer. 🤣
Wonderful!! Happy Reunion!!
I love cats.
16 years old. That cat is lucky.
18. He was two at the beginning of his great adventure.
Good cat
I'm weeping. Poor old baby. What an amazing tale. I have a gray kitty that adopted me. Indoor/outdoor. I worry about her constantly.
I love my cat.
PRAISE JESUS!!! This Makes my DAY!!! SOOO HAPPY!!! xoxoxoxo
Oooh Ritz! 😢😢😢😢😢
Like it or not, G-damn kitties steal your heart away (Annapolis a neat town too; wish I'd done a St. John's transfer year there).
That touches my heart Ritz is an awesome cat back home with a family that never gave up ooh the love
this upsets me to no end..apparently he was not seen by a vet for 16 years...
Apparently he was with someone who loved him for most of those years. What happened to his step-human was probably that they had passed, & either they had no family or their family wasn’t fond of pets.
Aww such beautiful story.
Thanks AKC Reunite
He's been missing literally my entire life
I'm not crying .
Oh my goodness that sweet fur baby found his momma and daddy again and got a brother and sister too❤️
Incredible!
To me, it's still tragic. 16 yrs... 😔
Beautiful, simply beautiful.
Handsome cat. As a cat guardian, I find this story heartwarming.
That's how love works 😻😻😻😻😻👍
I love the history. Our cat goes for a night and we panic!!😌
For Ritz and family, all the best and God bless. 😘😘😘
I miss my Piper kitty, lost in 2012 and always hope I'll see her again.
Very very nice...Thank you for sharing...
Wow! That's amazing.
I'm not crying.you're crying... :(... happy ending xoxo💌
My cat was lost for ten days. He was chipped. I had my moments in those days. The day I finally got him back, he was apparently meowing non stop. The minute I got to him, he started purring and fell asleep. He’s an indoor cat, I never imagined I would need that chip. But I’m happy we have it. I tell people, always get your pets chipped, and keep your contact and your pets info up to date.
OMGosh! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 I'm so happy for them and happy that someone took care of him for a while or whatever. At least he's alive and back w/his family. I pray he lives long enough to gain all the love from them & they from him. 😍🤗👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Ritz has an impressive 16 years of experience as stray!
I am sure he would be better survival instructor to young cats than Bear Grylls.
RITZ IS SUPERMAN!!!!
so beautiful 😄😆😉🐱😘
WOW!!! Happy tears!!!! 💕
Damn I hate it when cat does this... My boy also always disappears for 1 or 2 days, and acts like nothing happens when he gets home 😓 Being pawrent is like having a toddler and rebel teenager at the same time.
This story is beautiful
Any Homeward Bound fans? We need to get Sally Field on the case to translate!
Wow!!
What a strong family
What a beautiful story
Aww, what a gumpa kitty! 🥰😻
WTF?!?! Now there is a cat that truly must have at least nine lives!
16 years! What a story. Poor cat.
This is why all pets should have a collar with ID tags. Microchips aren't effective unless someone takes the animal to a vet.
Kitty cat got to go back home before if was all over.
I would love to know how Ritz is doing.
WOW!!
What happy story!
❤️😭❤️😭❤️
Yayyyy Ritz yayyyy 🎉🥳🧚😇🤠🤭💃🗽My cat Forrest is so happy for you and your mom and dad 🥳🎉🥳🎉🥳🎉🥳🎉🥳🥳🎉🥳🥳🎉😸
Not too late👍🤟
❤️❤️❤️❤️
💕♥️💕
My god , such a long long lime , poor cat , surely she suffered a lot all this long time. and she s quite old now.
Umm why didn’t someone bring him in earlier to be scanned????!!! It’s free to do!!!