A mischievous cat escaped from a leash at a Manhattan subway station and delayed more than 80 trains when it jumped onto the tracks during Wednesday afternoon rush-hour, authorities and transit sources said. Mila Rusafova, 23, of Washington Heights, said she was bringing her cats, named Zoe and George, home from the vet when it happened. George, a black cat who is a little over a year old, was on a leash, while her other feline was in a carrier. Rusafova said George, who is usually sweet and peaceful, bolted when he got startled by an uptown 
train. "He ran and the collar opened and he jumped onto the tracks," she said, adding that he ran for safety in a niche within the station walls. "He was really scared and ran into one of the alcoves and just sat in the corner facing the wall, not moving like a statue." She and other riders alerted the motorman, but he had trouble alerting supervisors to what was happening, she said because of communication problems.
"Unfortunately, the radio wasn't working and the driver started insisting that he has to go," Rusafova said. "I frantically begged him not to. Meanwhile, my brother went to look for help." The 
soon shut off the power to the tracks, and suspended service on both uptown and downtown 
and trains. Her brother returned with several police officers, who picked up George from the niche in the wall while passengers watched on the platform shortly about 5:50 p.m. "Time was a blur," Rusafova said. "That whole time George never moved. He was frozen to the spot. I was always scared that he would run." An spokesman said almost 100 trains were delayed by the cat on the loose. Rusafova said she was so relieved that the and NYPD helped George get home safely. "It was one of my worst nightmares come true," she said. "I always imagine falling or dropping something on the tracks, but you never really think it... I'm very grateful with the NYPD and the 's patience." In August 2013, two kittens delayed 
and 
trains in Brooklyn when they played on the tracks. Former chairman and mayoral candidate Joe Lhota got some backlash during the election when would have kept the trains running if he were still in charge, rather than inconvenience riders. The said this is not something that happens often. "While our train crews deal with a myriad of incidents, an animal on the tracks is rare but crippling to service," said New York City Transit in an online statement.
Source: http://www.amny.com/transit/cat-rescued-from-subway-tracks-delayed-about-100-trains-1.10670768