Stowmarket Tesco refuses to display statue in memory of Oscar the cat

A beloved cat who spent his days greeting customers at a Tesco store has been memorialised with a sculpture — but the supermarket has refused to display it.

Artist Sharon Kulesa spent two days creating the statue as a tribute to Oscar the Tesco cat, who won over shoppers’ hearts at the Tesco Superstore in Cedars Link Road, Stowmarket.

Following a short battle with stomach cancer, Oscar was put to sleep on Tuesday, January 7 which saw a large outpouring of floral tributes, cards and cat treats being left in the foyer in memory of the famous feline who became a social media star.

Sharon has made many similar sculptures in the past, including of Ed Sheeran, Boris Johnson and King Charles, which usually sit on her fence in Chilton Way for the town’s community to enjoy.

However, she said she was disappointed when Tesco staff gave her a ‘hard no’ to displaying the Oscar statue in the supermarket where he spent so much of his time.

“I was honestly gutted,” Sharon said. “I didn’t think it would be a problem.

“I thought I would just put in the foyer where he liked to sit, out of the way of customers — but then I was told that the supermarket doesn’t allow any Oscar-related things in the store anymore.

“I saw posts online saying that some people wanted to get some money together to hopefully get a statue of him made, so I just thought I could do it for free.

“But I had to take it away as soon as I got to Tesco which was such a shame — even for the little time it was there, people were already starting to see it and enjoy it.

“I’m a big cat lover and he always lit up my shopping experience like he did for so many.

“He brought so much light into so many people’s lives. I would have loved to have had the statue in the supermarket for just a month or so, but getting a hard no from Tesco was really disappointing.”

Tesco confirmed that it is unable to accommodate a permanent statue.

Store manager Wayne Leech said: “The team at Stowmarket Superstore were saddened by the passing of Oscar the cat, who was a regular visitor to store and would help put a smile on the faces of colleagues and customers alike.

“We were glad to be able share the tributes customers left for Oscar with his owner, and make a donation from Tesco and our customers to a nearby cat charity in Oscar’s name, to mark his memory.”

The donation of cat food left by shoppers went to Kitty Cat Rescue in Stowmarket while other tributes were given to Oscar’s owner, Sylvie Nolan.

Sylvie praised Sharon’s sculpture — crafted from newspaper, tin foil and masking tape — saying she loved it but was somewhat disappointed Tesco declined to display it.

She said: “I really love the statue, I think its lovely and its a real shame they wouldn’t let her put it up even for a few days.

“Sharon is a popular local artist and she is going to give me the statue to keep, once its been on show for others to enjoy.

“I still can’t believe all the cards and flowers people were leaving for him, it was just so nice — he is very much missed.

“I have only been in Tesco once since he died, to collect all the tributes and everything. I’m finding it difficult to go in there at the moment because I find myself looking for him.

“I’m not really sure why Tesco aren’t allowing it to be in the store as I know he meant a lot to so many people.”

Sharon has said she will still display the statue on her fence in Chilton Way once Storm Éowyn passes over Suffolk as the Met Office has warned residents over 50mph winds expected to hit tomorrow.

She added: “I really love making these sculptures and I know people in the town love them too.

“A lot of people say it’ll make their day to see one of them sat on my fence — and they like to guess who I might make next.

“It’s lovely to hear those kind of comments and it’s exactly why I do it, I just want to make people smile. It’s like my little gift to the people of Stowmarket.”