Addition allows ‘cat lady’ to live indoors

MILFORD – Things are looking up for Diane Morse, Milford’s “cat lady,” who provides shelter and care for some 250 abandoned cats.

A month ago, it appeared that Morse would be spending the winter in a tent adjacent to her trailer that doubles as an animal shelter. A burgeoning population of cats needed more space, and there wasn’t enough room to keep Morse’s bed and belongings inside anymore.

Now, thanks to the effort and work of a few good friends and relatives, Morse has moved inside again after the completion of a 12-by-24-foot addition that was put up in record time.

The addition was completed in time for Morse to welcome some visitors Thursday. Brownie Scout Troop 239 of Milford arrived at 6 p.m. at Morse’s home on Pine Street. The troop last week did a good deed to benefit Morse and her 250 cats, and they wanted to have fun and mingle with the felines.

The troop donated $50 of the money they earned in cookie sales last year to buy bags of cat litter for Morse’s felines. Thirty-six bags, each weighing 25 pounds were delivered last weekend. It will keep Morse in cat litter for almost a week.

The girls, mostly 8 and 9 years old, fed, patted and gave general attention to cats of all sizes and shapes.

Samantha Meservey, 8, said the troop decided to help Morse, whom they’ve come to know as a friendly neighbor. “We thought it would be very nice to give her some cat litter so she doesn’t spend all her money on the cats and so she has enough to buy food for herself.” Meservey said. Troop leaders are Antoinette “Tony” Meservey of Milford and Julie Eugley of Greenfield.

Morse, a part-time income-tax preparer, has been known to spend up to $17,000 a year on veterinary care for her feline brood.

She has won the respect of Bangor veterinarian John Benson, owner of Broadway Veterinary Clinic. All of Morse’s cats get their preventive shots and other treatments at the clinic. All are spayed or neutered. A recent inspection by a state humane agent resulted in the pronouncement that the cats are well cared for. Morse’s operation is licensed as an animal shelter.

The new addition has been welcomed by Morse and her cats, who, before this, coexisted in a 10-by-50-foot trailer – that is, until Morse added a second trailer to her lot last August to house some of the cats whose numbers were increasing almost daily. The second trailer caught the attention, and the ire, of some townspeople who directed the code enforcement officer to have the trailer removed.

The second trailer was moved out in early October, and the 60 cats that lived in it were placed back in the original trailer. At that point, Morse pitched a 10-by-18-foot nylon tent adjacent to the trailer and put her bed in there, trying to keep warm each night under three comforters and a sleeping bag.

Work on the addition began about three weeks ago. Family members, friends and the town’s code enforcement officer, Bill Carpenter, 75, worked together to erect the structure and to put on the roof. Morse moved in Monday, Nov. 5.

Now the cats, including Hairball, a 22-pound cat who loves to be patted, and James Dean, a frisky black-and-white shorthair, rest on bunk beds in the airy addition. Others, such as Wanda-Jo, a tortoise-shell longhair, grab a bite from the more spacious feeding station nearby. Others rest on Morse’s bed, now placed in its own foyer adjacent to the addition or sit on her television set. Down the hall, more cats play in the old section of the trailer. The new addition has allowed the cats to spread out, lessening the stress Morse was beginning to see in the animals. The animals hiss and squabble less, now that they have more room, Morse said.

“This is just the beginning,” said Morse, who has bigger plans.

Those interested in donating funds to Morse’s cat sanctuary project may contact the Penobscot Federal Credit Union, Box 434, Old Town 04468. Make checks payable to Morse’s Feline Rescue Foundation.