“He was meowing and pacing …” 😰
When Becky Wisdom’s phone buzzed late one evening, the message she received stopped her cold. As president of Greenpoint Cats (GPC) in New York City, she’s used to emergency alerts about cats in trouble. But this one made her heart drop instantly.
A fellow rescuer, Martha of Cats in the City (CITC), shared reports of a cat who had been abandoned inside the Williamsburg bus depot. There was, however, a serious complication: it was already nighttime, the doors were locked, and the frightened cat was trapped inside with no clear way out.
Wisdom wanted nothing more than to rush to the scene herself, but she was recovering from surgery at the time and physically couldn’t go. Instead, she quickly dispatched a volunteer to check on the situation. Less than an hour later, the volunteer arrived — and confirmed everyone’s worst fears.
“She confirmed there was a young gray cat locked inside,” Wisdom told The Dodo.
With no way to access the bus station overnight, the rescuers felt helpless. The cat’s distress only made the situation more painful.
“The first videos we got were heartbreaking,” Wisdom said. “He was meowing and pacing — clearly confused and stressed about being trapped inside.”
From outside the locked doors, the volunteer tried to comfort the cat, who would later be named Metrocard, but there was little she could do. Realizing he likely hadn’t eaten, she focused on making sure he at least wouldn’t go hungry.
“The volunteer was able to slide some food under the door,” Wisdom said. “He gobbled it down quickly. He was very hungry.”
While it was a relief to see Metrocard eat, the rescuers were still uneasy about leaving him alone overnight in such a large, unfamiliar space.
“We made a plan to get him first thing the next morning,” Wisdom said. “We were told employees usually open around 6 a.m., but we were still nervous. What if someone arrived early and let the cat out? Would we be able to find him?”
To reduce the risk, the rescuers taped a sign to the door asking workers not to let the cat out and committed to returning as early as possible.
The following morning, Martha from CITC met the GPC volunteer at 5:30 a.m., just minutes before the bus depot staff were scheduled to arrive. When the doors finally opened, the rescuers gently placed a carrier nearby — and Metrocard immediately ran over to greet them.
“Metrocard went right into the carrier,” Wisdom said. “It was as if he was waiting to be rescued and ready to move on from that experience.”
With Metrocard finally safe, the rescuers transported him to a local veterinary clinic, where he was given a clean bill of health. Soon after, he was placed in a loving foster home where he could relax, decompress and begin to feel secure again.
“He’s very active, vocal and sweet,” Wisdom said.
Sadly, Metrocard isn’t the first bodega cat to be abandoned in New York City. According to Wisdom, these situations are common, often occurring when shop owners become overwhelmed as playful kittens grow into adult cats with stronger personalities.
Still, Wisdom and her team remain committed to helping every abandoned bodega cat they encounter. While Metrocard is still searching for his forever home, his rescuers are grateful knowing he’s safe, cared for and loved in foster care instead of struggling on the streets.
“Unfortunately, this is an all-too-common scenario,” Wisdom said. “Thankfully, Metrocard’s story has a happier ending, and we can’t wait to see him in a forever home with the love he truly deserves.”