Late one evening, Becky Wisdom received a message that instantly filled her with concern.
As president of Greenpoint Cats in New York City, Wisdom is no stranger to emergency rescue calls. But this situation felt especially heartbreaking: someone had reportedly abandoned a young gray cat inside the Williamsburg bus depot after the station had already closed for the night.
The doors were locked, and the frightened cat was trapped inside with no way out.
A fellow rescuer named Martha from Cats in the City first alerted Wisdom about the desperate situation. Because Wisdom was recovering from surgery and unable to respond herself, she quickly sent a volunteer to investigate.
When the volunteer arrived, she discovered the reports were true.
“There really was a young gray cat trapped inside the station,” Wisdom later shared with The Dodo.
Unable to enter the building that night, the rescuers could only watch helplessly from outside. The scared cat paced back and forth near the glass doors, crying and meowing as if begging someone to save him.
“The first videos were absolutely heartbreaking,” Wisdom said. “He looked confused and terrified.”
The volunteer tried speaking softly to comfort the cat, who would later be named Metrocard, but there was little she could do until the station reopened in the morning.
Worried that he hadn’t eaten, she managed to slide food underneath the door. Metrocard immediately rushed over and devoured it.
“He was extremely hungry,” Wisdom explained.
Although the rescuers felt relieved knowing the cat finally had food, they spent the entire night worrying about what might happen before morning. They feared an employee could accidentally let him outside before rescuers returned, causing him to disappear into the city streets.
Before leaving, they taped a note to the door asking workers not to release the cat if they arrived early.
The next morning, Martha and the Greenpoint Cats volunteer arrived at the depot before sunrise, waiting anxiously outside the station before employees unlocked the doors.
The moment rescuers entered, Metrocard ran directly toward them.
In an instant, he willingly stepped right into the carrier — almost as if he knew help had finally arrived.
“Metrocard climbed into the carrier like he was completely ready to leave that experience behind,” Wisdom said.
The rescue team quickly transported him to a veterinary clinic, where he received a clean bill of health. Soon afterward, Metrocard moved into a foster home, where he finally had the chance to relax and feel safe.
Now, the once-trapped cat is thriving.
“He’s incredibly sweet, vocal, and playful,” Wisdom said.
Sadly, rescuers say Metrocard’s story is not unusual. Abandoned “bodega cats” are a common problem throughout New York City, especially when kittens grow older and become more difficult for shop owners to manage.
Still, Metrocard’s rescuers are grateful his story ended differently.
Instead of surviving alone on the streets, he now spends his days cuddling safely with his foster family while waiting for a forever home.
“Unfortunately, situations like this happen far too often,” Wisdom said. “But Metrocard got the happy ending he deserved, and we can’t wait for him to find a family who will love him forever.”
To inquire about adopting Metrocard, you can fill out an application here.
To help cats like Metrocard get the care they need, you can donate to Greenpoint Cats here and Cats in the City here.
