After Sam Sam the Kittycat Man disappeared 11 years ago, Jennifer Ravenel couldnsa国际传媒檛 hold another cat in her lap. Her heart never could overcome the loss of that feral kitten she had rescued from the crook of a tree on her South Carolina farm.

But Sam is now back in Ravenelsa国际传媒檚 lap, thanks to her decision to have a microchip put in him.

Charleston County Animal Control found Sam this month, skinny and feeding off scraps from a feral colony less than a mile from Ravenelsa国际传媒檚 home. His microchip was scanned, and Ravenel got a nearly unbelievable phone call.

sa国际传媒淚 really though ysa国际传媒檃ll were playing a prank on me, because it couldnsa国际传媒檛 be possible. But this is a miracle in itself,sa国际传媒� Ravenel told workers at the Charleston Animal Society.

They guided Ravenel to a room where Sam was in a cage. She cried as soon as she saw him.

sa国际传媒淪am, Sam the Kittycat Man! Isa国际传媒檓 missed you so much! 11 years!sa国际传媒� she said.

Once everyone was sure Sam was OK, Ravenel got to hold her lap kitty again. She squeezed him, telling him that he was her boy and remarking how skinny he was.

sa国际传媒淚 havensa国际传媒檛 held a cat since he left sa国际传媒� 11 years sa国际传媒� because it broke my heart. To feel his little heartbeat in there, oh, gosh, itsa国际传媒檚 the craziest thing that has ever happened to me,sa国际传媒� Ravenel said in a video provided by the Animal Society.

Sam weighed probably 15 pounds (6.8 kilograms) when he disappeared and half that when he was found, said Kay Hyman, a spokesperson for the Animal Society.

Ravenel initially found Sam in a feral colony after hearing quiet meows from a crook in a tree. He sat in her lap and followed her around the farm.

But one day a dog came along and spooked Sam, and she couldnsa国际传媒檛 find him.

sa国际传媒淚 searched and searched the woods. I asked everybody that lived around us, and nobody saw him. But hesa国际传媒檚 a survivor,sa国际传媒� Ravenel told society workers as she petted her now-old friend.

The reunion would have been impossible without the microchip implanted just under Samsa国际传媒檚 skin. The Animal Society said it shows how important it is to have that kind of permanent identification for pets.

Ravenel told the shelter that Sam is spending most of his time at the foot of her bed and does not want to go back outside.

Jeffrey Collins, The Associated Press