Almost £3,500 has been raised to erect a permanent statue of a friendly ginger cat who spent each day greeting commuters at a busy station.
Nala the cat passed away at the age of six, with his owner, Natasha, writing she was ‘devastated’ at the loss of a family member.
In 2023, Metro travelled to Stevenage to meet Nala and speak to the businesses inside the station, who were happy to provide a warm corner for him to nap in.
One of his favourite places to lie down for a rest was on a pile of Metro newspapers in the station, making us here at the paper even bigger fans.
Nala’s disarming face and purrs made even the most dog-loving commuters stop to pat him on the head.
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Throughout his time as honorary station cat, he gained 40,000 followers, many of whom have now donated in hopes of making a permanent statue of the feline outside Stevenage station.
A GoFundMe with a goal of £2,000 has now surpassed £3,000, in hopes of getting a small statue and plaque of Nala the cat.
‘Nala (who was born male but who purrfurrred to be referred to as ‘she’ by her nearest and dearest) was a sweetheart of the community, although her fame extended beyond Stevenage with over 150,000 followers across social media platforms and a music single under her belt,’ the fundraiser reads.
‘She brought so much warmth and joy to whoever she met, it seems only right and fitting that we honour her memory at her favourite place.’
Organisers of the fundraiser say they’ve contacted Great Northern Trains, who run Stevenage Train Station, and the Mayor of Stevenage.
Metro has contacted both for comment.
Nala’s owner previously told Metro that everyone at the station, employees and commuters alike, just loved the feline.
Metro’s encounter with Nala, the famous station cat
In 2023, I had the opportunity to hop on a train from King’s Cross and visit Nala, the lovely orange cat, in Stevenage.
The love for Nala was palpable from the moment I tapped out of the barricade. A box at the Costa labelled ‘CAT’, a stool at the florist’s with a cushion, placed right next to the space heater.
Even on the cold December morning, busy commuters cracked a smile when they spotted the ginger cat sitting by the barricade or stretching as he walked between businesses.
If my one-day visit to see Nala made me believe anything, it’s that he will be so, so missed by his community.
A station worker previously said Nala loved the area so much that he was locked inside the station after closing before someone realised he had been left behind the gates.
Not that Nala minded – he was familiar with every corner of Stevenage Station, but his favourite spot was Green Goddess Flowers, run by Lianne.
Lianne told Metro in 2023: ‘Before, Nala used to come in and sit in our chair, but that was only occasionally. Now I think it’s become a downtime for him. He comes dashing over, and he’ll come and sleep.’
Another cat in Saltburn was honoured with a statue after frequenting the seaside and even letting himself into businesses.
Hendrix the Cat passed away suddenly in 2024, and locals raised thousands to honour him in a statue.
Owner Nathan Bye, 40, told Metro earlier this year: ‘The thing about Hendrix is he wasn’t scared of people. He would go into homes, shops, cafes, and up to anyone. He wasn’t scared of dogs either.’
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