16 Years After Their Cat Disappeared, Maryland Couple Gets An Unexpected Call

Cats are naturally curious creatures, and it only takes an open door or a moment’s distraction for them to go exploring. 

But Ritz seemed to take that curiosity to an entirely different level. When Jason and Liz from Annapolis, Maryland, moved in together, they decided it was time to adopt a pet. 

They wanted to give a homeless kitten a second chance, and soon enough, Ritz joined their family, bringing endless energy and love into their home.

This sweet gray kitty quickly filled their home with happiness, turning everyday life into something brighter and more exciting.

But one day, Ritz’s adventurous spirit got the better of him. He slipped outside, and sadly, he never managed to find his way back.

Liz and Jason were devastated by his disappearance. They covered the neighborhood with flyers, holding onto hope that someone might spot Ritz and help bring him back home.

However, days passed and no one saw the kitten. As Jason shared in his video:

“We spent months looking all around, talking to the shelters. Anything you can think of, we tried.”

Days slipped into months, and months stretched into years, yet Ritz was still missing. You might assume that after so much time, Liz and Jason eventually let go, but Liz never truly gave up. 

She held on to Ritz’s missing poster and kept a quiet belief in her heart that he was still out there, waiting for them.

For sixteen long years, she carried that hope. Thankfully, when they first adopted Ritz, the couple had chosen to microchip him – a decision that would later prove life-changing.

Then, out of the blue, Jason received a text message that completely turned their world around.

Ritz was safe and sound in a nearby animal hospital waiting for his parents to pick him up. Jason was confused at first, as he said:

“I’m thinking, this has got to be a mistake. They probably recycled the microchip number.”

His wife Liz was in absolute shock, as she shared:

“He’s been gone for 16 years. I didn’t think this was possible.”

As it turned out, Ritz had been living in a trailer park, where a kind woman discovered him in rough shape.

By then, he was an elderly cat, fragile but still full of spirit. The woman wasted no time in taking him to a vet, giving him the care he so desperately needed.

At the animal hospital, staff followed standard procedure and scanned Ritz for a microchip. 

That simple step connected him back to Jason and Liz, triggering the message that their long-lost cat had finally been found.

Now reunited, Ritz is living out his golden years surrounded by the love he had been missing for so long. 

He’s spoiled with daily treats, endless cuddles, and has already claimed his favorite chair, where he happily spends much of his time napping in peace.

I’m fairly certain this sweet boy could set the record for the longest-missing cat reunion, but what matters most is that he finally made it back to where he belongs. 

After so many years apart, it feels nothing short of a miracle to have him safe and sound again. 

At the end of the day, I’m simply grateful that Ritz is home, surrounded by the love and comfort he always deserved.