Cat Reunited With Owner After 16 Years Makes National News

By ESTEBAN PARRA, The Information Journal

ODESSA, Del. (AP) — He’s graced the pages of newspapers. Been spotlighted on native TV stations. The web has additionally shared the story of how Ritz the cat reunited together with his proprietor after 16 years of wandering anomalously via Delaware.

However the limelight hasn’t fazed the grey tabby, who since being discovered a few month in the past as a vet ready to place him down, spends most of his time testing furnishings to sleep on on the Odessa-area residence of Duncan and Caroline Clark.

“I don’t assume he cares,” Caroline Clark mentioned of the reporters who’ve visited Ritz. “He sleeps many of the day.”

A CBS information crew not too long ago stopped by to do a characteristic on the feline.

Information of Ritz’s reunion together with his authentic proprietor, Jason McKenry, was first shared on Delaware On-line/The Information Journal in April.

The 2 parted methods in June 2006 when Ritz ran out an open door and vanished. It’s believed the cat, then about 2 years outdated, hitched a trip on a neighbor’s pickup, leaping out on Route 1, close to Route 40.

About two years in the past, Emily Russell began feeding Ritz, who started gathering with a number of different feral cats close to her Lums Pond-area residence. As a result of the grey tabby would let her pet him, she named him Tom.

However not too long ago, the cat confirmed up injured, together with a bone protruding from his proper hind leg.

Russell and her father took the kitty to Lums Pond Animal Hospital, the place it regarded just like the feline could be euthanized. However when a microchip was discovered within the cat, it resulted within the vets finding McKenry.

McKenry, who lives in Annapolis together with his spouse, returned to Delaware that night time and reunited with Ritz.

“It’s astonishing,” he advised Delaware On-line/The Information Journal.

As a result of the McKenrys have a full home, which incorporates two youngsters and two cats, Ritz has been staying with the Clarks, who’re his in-laws.

A follow-up go to to the vets discovered no must amputate Ritz’s leg – regardless of the protruding bone.

“He’ll simply proceed to get round as he has been,” Clark mentioned. “Doc was impressed by how pleasant and docile he’s. He doesn’t appear to be in ache. He’ll reside out his life as a disabled, glad cat.”

The primary days on the Clarks’, Ritz spent a variety of it sleeping on a cat mattress. However since then, he’s discovered different choices.

“He has examined out each upholstered chair in our home and has picked his favourite,” Clark mentioned. “An outdated rocking chair that belonged to my mom! It makes me glad that I didn’t ship it to Goodwill!”

He’s consuming and gaining weight and purred for the primary time, she mentioned.

Ritz hasn’t been allowed to depart, apart from to make use of the Clarks’ screened porch the place he goes provided that somebody is in it.

“He gained’t exit by himself,” she mentioned. “I believe he says, ‘Been there. Performed that. I’m glad right here.’”

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