Tommy’s Feral Feline Friends to carry on despite loss of founder Norm Blais

PHOTO: Collie and Levi warm up on Old Betsy, for many years the reliable vehicle at Tommy’s Feral Feline Friends, which racked up more than a million miles. “(Submitted photo)

By Maureen Milliken

GREENE – Norm Blais, founder of Tommy’s Feral Feline Friends, died a few days before Christmas, but the work of the cat rescue organization will continue, said Rose Murphy, his partner in life and at Tommy’s.
Murphy said that she and Blais shared a passion for rescuing and saving all animals. “He’s my hero and one of the most extraordinary men I’ve ever known,” said Murphy, who said she feels fortunate and honored to work at Blais’ side for so many years.

“We complemented one another and shared the same views and visions for Tommy’s Feral Feline Friends,” she said. “I can honestly say I will never find another man like him who had an extensive knowledge of all animals and life, tenacity, resiliency, compassion and kindness for every living being.” She said he was always willing to give of himself, even after shoveling out the cat enclosures for 48 hours. “He would put everything down just to help someone who needed help,” she said. He could communicate with anyone and put them at ease, as well as work with any animal. “The animals immediately liked him,” she said. “It was something I always enjoyed watching, the love the animals had for him. It’s been sad for all the animals in our care who have been grieving for Norm.”
As Blais became ill, he wanted Murphy to make sure that the community knew how grateful he was for the kindness and compassion shown to Tommy’s over the years.
“He was emphatic about letting people know, although he desperately wanted to live, that Tommy’s Feral Feline Friends will continue,” she said.
His dream was to acquire property in Greene to expand Tommy’s. Murply said Blais wept when he said, “I tried for our dreams, maybe sweetheart, you can fulfill them.”
Blais started the no-kill rescue almost four decades ago. Tommy’s takes in abandoned and abused cats, gives them medical care (from spay and neuter, to daily medications, and more) and provides safe shelter for them to live in. The shelters are large, covered with pine bows, and give the cats comfort and privacy. Tommy’s volunteers feed the cats daily, and make sure paths are shoveled to give them access in the winter.
In a 2012 TV interview, Blais said, “No one really speaks up for these cats, or helps them,” he said that he and Murphy decided, “Let’s take the animal that’s being done less for, and we’ll do it ourselves.” He said that feral cats “are the lowest animal on the scale of people really caring for them, so we’re the spokesperson for them.”

Murphy said her favorite photo is of two cats resting on the hood of Old Betsey, Norm’s pickup, which was retired with more than a million miles on it. Like the cats, “I too always looked forward to hearing the sounds of his truck when waiting for him to pick me up from the forest,” she said. “Today I would like one more night where I could share one last ride with the love of my life and best friend,” she said. “The adventures, stories, laughter, joy, love rested with her.”
Much of the cost of taking care of the cat colonies was paid by Blais and Murphy, as well as money raised with the twice-yearly bake sale and bottle drive fundraisers. Murphy said that for the time being, there is too much work to do in the wake of Blais’ death to hold the fundraisers. But the organization is still hoping people will remember it with donations to help continue Blais’ work. Tommy’s can be reached at normblais39@yahoo.com or Tommy’s Feral Feline Friends, P.O. Box 274, Greene, ME 04236.