When Jill Pettichord lost her beloved 3-year-old cat Ralph in 2001, she was just a little girl and was devastated at the loss of her sweet Ralph, a beautiful cat her family had adopted in 1998 as a kitten, says Little Things.

So when Jill's mother received a call recently about a cat at the shelter with a microchip that traced back to the family, she didn't even think about Ralph, she simply explained I don't have a cat. And then it all came back to her. Jill and her mom went to the shelter and there was Ralph, thin from being a stray for many years, old, but still loving and recognized his family.

Watch the video below to see the reunion of this long-lost kitty coming home to his now adult owner to spend his golden years with her. Jill is ecstatic that he is home, according to The Bus. It'll warm your heart, as well as remind you to make that sure your animals are microchipped.

Microchips save lives. If a pet shows up at a shelter, they are automatically scanned for a microchip, and the owner is notified if they have one. We have all seen the stories of lost pets reunited one year, two years, eight years later. Ralph surpassed those numbers, going 14 years being without Jill. We are thrilled he came home to give Jill a happy ending to her missing pet dilemma, and from the looks of him now, he'll get the tlc he needs to live out his life healthy and happy as well.

If your pet isn't microchipped, check with your local humane society or animal shelter. Ask if they are having a low-cost microchip clinic coming up or if they offer that service on a regular basis. Don't wait until it's too late.

Microchips are the size of a grain of rice, and the procedure is similar to a vaccine. Get your pet microchipped. You will be glad you did.