This feline may have just earned eight more lives.
A friendly orange cat miraculously survived being struck by a train on the Long Island Rail Road and was later rescued from the tracks thanks to a compassionate locomotive engineer and a team of responders.
The fluffy cat was first discovered lying on the tracks near Lindenhurst station on Saturday night. The train engineer initially believed the animal had been killed, WABC reported.
A cat later named “Garfield” was rescued from the tracks at the Lindenhurst station on the Long Island Rail Road on Sunday evening.
After the engineer spotted the cat again nearly a full day later—this time still alive and moving—they contacted cat rescuer John DeBacker, who then requested assistance from the MTA Police Department, according to CBS New York.
Video shared on social media by DeBacker shows officers carefully approaching the frightened cat after shutting off power to the rails for safety.
“The scariest part for me was not knowing what was going through the cat’s mind,” DeBacker told CBS.
DeBacker and officers slowly approached the small, trembling animal—who appeared to have only a facial wound—and safely captured him using a net before placing him into a crate.
“He didn’t try to bite me at all. He was extremely affectionate once I picked him up,” the rescuer said.
The orange-and-white cat, later named “Garfield” for his resemblance to the cartoon character, was seen loudly meowing in videos after the rescue.
Police said Garfield appeared frightened but did not seem to have suffered serious injuries from the incident.
South Shore Feral Care, the rescue organization caring for Garfield in West Babylon, said in a recent update that the cat will be evaluated by a veterinary team, including an orthopedic specialist.
In a Facebook post, the group expressed disbelief at the cat’s survival after such a serious incident, writing that they were stunned he was “stable after being hit by a train,” and reflecting on the role of luck or fate in his recovery.
They also described Garfield as extremely affectionate, noting that he “wants love so bad” and seeks comfort by leaning in for head rubs during examinations.
“This mushball of a stray just wants to lean in for head rubs for comfort while being examined,” the rescue team shared.
Officials added that power to the rails had been shut off for only about three minutes during the rescue effort, and rail service on the Long Island Rail Road was not disrupted.
