Although seriously injured last week, a young cat is alive and currently under medical care in Damariscotta after a desperate dash for survival.
Trapped in the bedroom of a burning mobile home on Lynch Road on Nov. 24, six-month-old Moffitt literally ran for her life, escaping through flames and thick smoke to safety. The home, a rental property occupied by Scott Little, Kali Lucas and family, was completely engulfed in flame when little Moffitt appeared through the smoke.
According to Kali Lucas, Moffitt was all but given up for lost after a clothes dryer overheated and ignited the structure.
“She was stuck in the bedroom and my dryer was right outside of the bedroom,” Lucas said. “We got all the kids of out of the house, but we couldn’t get her out.”
The human hero of the hour was Scotty, Scott Little’s 17-year-old son, Lucas said.
According to Lucas, Scotty saved everyone’s life when he awoke everyone. Thanks to his alarm, all six people at home at the time of the fire were able to escape safely, even grabbing the other two family cats on the way out.
“He saved all of us,” she said. “It was early in the morning. Everyone else was in bed. He woke everybody else up. Scotty woke me up and said, ‘Kali, the dryer is smoking,’ and then he instantly changed it to, ‘no, the dryer is on fire… The other two cats were in the living room so we grabbed them. (Moffitt) was in my bedroom and we didn’t even know it. By then, it was all black smoke.”
When Moffitt appeared, Scotty scooped her up and took to a neighbor’s house where they wrapped the cat in a wet towel and took her to the Damariscotta Veterinary Clinic on Bus. Rt. 1.
“She ran right through the fire to get out,” Lucas said. “She ended up in the middle of my lawn. She was rolling around. My boyfriend’s son grabbed her and ran her across the lawn to the neighbors.”
Even from a distance, Lucas said she could see that Moffitt was badly injured. “I saw her from across the street and she was black and she’s normally a light grey cat,” Lucas said.
According to Lucas, Moffitt’s escape to the great outdoors is unusual because the cat had never shown an interest in going outside before; yet, when it mattered most, she found her way to the front door.
“My oldest cat, which is actually her mother, tries sneaking outside, but this one, the one who got burnt, had no interest in sneaking outside,” Lucas said. “Somehow she knew where she was going.”
Moffitt’s survival was one high point for a family that lost everything last week. For the moment, the Lucas-Little family is staying at Scott Little’s mother’s house in Damariscotta. Efforts are underway to help the family rebound for the holidays and beyond.
“We are doing okay. We are trying,” Lucas said. “I know the vet has a box on their counter to help with donations. They can’t even give an estimate on what it is going to be because it has already been a week and the vet said it is probably going to be another week before she can come out.”
The American Legion is sponsoring a live lobster benefit for the family on Sat. Dec. 6 at Wells Hussey American Legion Post in Damariscotta. A $5 donation buys two live lobsters. For more information call 563-7395.
A fund has been set up for the family at the Camden National Bank. Donations may be mailed to The Little/Lucas Fund, c/o the Camden National Bank, PO Box 98, Newcastle 04553.
Dr. Christine Welch and the staff at Damariscotta Veterinary Clinic have donated their time to care for Moffitt. A collection can has been placed on the counter to cover the cost of medicine and medical supplies. Miraculously Moffitt did not receive any lung damage in the fire. She has burns to her feet, ears, and face.
Her ears were singed, her eyelids blistered and her whiskers have all been burnt off, but she is recovering well, purring and wanting attention. Moffett arrived at the clinic covered in soot and ash after her outer fur was burned off. She was wrapped in a wet towel, which helped limit her damage due to burns. Donations for her care can be sent to the clinic at 530 Main Street, Damariscotta, 04543, c/o Moffitt Fund.
When Moffitt does come out she will likely receive quite the homecoming, according to Lucas. “She is going to be the most spoiled cat on the planet,” she said.
