While riding the Alaska Railroad near Willow, guide Portia Duke heard faint cries from the tracks and spotted a helpless kitten too small to climb to safety.
Unable to stop the train, Portia was haunted by the kitten’s meows and returned the next day with her boyfriend to search, never expecting to actually find the kitten still there.
Amazingly, the kitten had survived multiple trains passing overhead and was still meowing for help. Portia rushed her to a vet, who found her dehydrated but mostly healthy. Now named Willow, the one-month-old kitten is recovering and being showered with love.
While Portia and her boyfriend haven’t decided whether to adopt her, Alaska Railroad staff have already offered to make Willow part of their family if needed.