This lucky feline has certainly secured its nine lives.
A remarkable rescue unfolded when a sociable cat survived a collision with a Long Island Rail Road train and was saved by a compassionate locomotive engineer alongside a team of dedicated rescuers.
The fluffy orange cat was initially spotted by a train engineer lying motionless on the tracks near the Lindenhurst station on Saturday night, leading them to believe it was dead, according to WABC.
However, when the engineer observed the cat again nearly 24 hours later on Sunday evening, this time showing signs of life, they reached out to cat rescuer John DeBacker. DeBacker then sought assistance from the MTA Police Department, as reported by CBS New York.
Footage shared on social media by DeBacker captures officers carefully approaching the frightened feline after the rail power was turned off for safety.
“The most nerve-wracking part for me was not knowing what the cat might be thinking,” DeBacker shared with CBS.
DeBacker and officers slowly walked toward the small lump of fur — who appeared to only have a wound on his face — and caught him in a net to lift him into a crate.
“He didn’t try to bite me at all. He was extremely affectionate once I picked him up,” the expert cat rescuer said.
The orange and white feline, who was named “Garfield” for his adorable resemblance to the cartoon character, was later seen loudly meowing in videos.
Garfield was frightened but did not appear to be seriously injured by the train, police told the outlet.
South Shore Feral Care in West Babylon, which took Garfield in for care, said in an update that the cat will be “meeting with a veterinary team,” including an orthopedist.
“Can you help us find the words to describe being ‘stable after HIT BY A TRAIN’? Luck, fate, we’re dumbfounded!” South Shore Feral Care wrote in a Facebook post.
The rescue group said Garfield is very affectionate and “wants love so bad.”
“This mushball of a stray just wants to lean in for head rubs for comfort while being examined,” they wrote about the ginger kitty.
Power to the rails was only cut for three minutes, and LIRR service was not disrupted.
