Wise began with three in midfield with Neil Harris just behind Danny Dichio and Nick Chadwick, but abandoned the experiment at half-time by replacing Chadwick and Andy Roberts with Marvin Elliott and Peter Sweeney in a 4-4-2 formation.
It almost paid dividends as Millwall were much livelier after the break and looked the more likely of the two teams to break the deadlock. The impressive youngster Elliott got on the end of their two best chances but blasted them narrowly wide.
Wise was disappointed not to win, but the Lions' can be satisfied with another resilient performance so soon after their FA Cup triumph.
Darren Ward and Matt Lawrence, so impressive at Old Trafford on Sunday, were once again immaculate at the back while the energetic Cahill was the most effective attacking player on show.
Wise said: "We looked like we were still in the party mood in the first half and we needed to get that out of our system. In the second half we were a lot better.
"I thought we created more chances than Cardiff so we're disappointed we couldn't get all three points."
Millwall have now lost just once in 19 games, a run in which they have conceded 12 goals, and only Norwich City and West Brom have a better defensive record in Division One.
Wise knows the number one priority of promotion is still in Millwall's hands, with crucial games coming up against Coventry on Saturday and West Brom on Monday.
"We need to get a win in at least one of those games. We have seven games left. We have a points target to get to which I know and the players know."
