After Sam Sam the Kittycat Man disappeared 11 years ago, Jennifer Ravenel couldn含羞草研究社檛 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 Ravenel含羞草研究社檚 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 Ravenel含羞草研究社檚 home. His microchip was scanned, and Ravenel got a nearly unbelievable phone call.

含羞草研究社淚 really though y含羞草研究社檃ll were playing a prank on me, because it couldn含羞草研究社檛 be possible. But this is a miracle in itself,含羞草研究社� 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.

含羞草研究社淪am, Sam the Kittycat Man! I含羞草研究社檓 missed you so much! 11 years!含羞草研究社� 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.

含羞草研究社淚 haven含羞草研究社檛 held a cat since he left 含羞草研究社� 11 years 含羞草研究社� because it broke my heart. To feel his little heartbeat in there, oh, gosh, it含羞草研究社檚 the craziest thing that has ever happened to me,含羞草研究社� 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 couldn含羞草研究社檛 find him.

含羞草研究社淚 searched and searched the woods. I asked everybody that lived around us, and nobody saw him. But he含羞草研究社檚 a survivor,含羞草研究社� Ravenel told society workers as she petted her now-old friend.

The reunion would have been impossible without the microchip implanted just under Sam含羞草研究社檚 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