Jan. 27 (UPI) -- A group of people in a town in England have launched a crowdfunding campaign to honor a cat that once resided in a local supermarket.

The Just Giving campaign is seeking to raise about $6,000 to erect a statue honoring Brutus "The Morrisons Cat," who died earlier in January.


"He delighted children and adults alike with his cheeky 'cattitude,' investigating shopping in people's trolleys as they left the store, jumping into cars to investigate, sneaking down the pet food aisle to see what kind of offers were on, and just generally being there daily for everyone to love and fuss," Claire Owens, who started the campaign, said. "He had a gorgeous fluffy face and strutted around like he owned the place, oh and he loved the camera!"

Owens said that Brutus was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease in 2013 and was put to sleep on Jan. 16 after his condition worsened.

Regulars at the supermarket in the town of Stanley and many of Brutus's more than 12,000 Facebook followers were devastated.

"We thought that a memorial to honor Brutus is only fitting, so that people can still say hello to him and have something to remember him by," she said. "Many people have expressed their wish for something to be placed in Morrisons, so this is what we are raising the money for, plus also for local animal charities."

The campaign saw a swell of support from the beginning, collecting $1,255 in the first 24 hours.

A spokesman for Morrisons told the Chester Chronicle he had been in contact with Owens about helping to honor Brutus.

"Brutus was much loved by our customers and colleagues and he will be greatly missed," he said. "We'll be meeting with Claire to plan a permanent memorial at the store so everyone can remember him."